Re: [Swprograms] [ODXA] BBC to Caribbean

["Richard Cuff" <rdcuff@xxxxxxxxx>]

While I agree with most everything you've said, I am not sure I accept
the statement I quoted below as fact.

I would add the following qualifying statement to this sentence:

"...in every way possible, consistent with the instutition's reasons
for existence -- its charter -- and the resources allotted to the
institution to accomplish its tasks."

By the logic you used, then the BBC should broadcast in every known
language -- that's part of "every way possible".  That isn't practical
either, as I am sure you'd agree.

In many ways I'm convinced this logic dates back to the discussion we
had here on "BBC Audibility" back in June 2001.  In 1999/2000,
pre-cuts, the audibility of the WS in North America was "63%" on some
sort of percentage scale, whereas the global audibility target was
81%.  We never did sort out what "audibility" meant, or what the
percentages meant as well.

The BBC at that time categorized its target audiences -- i.e. its
"reasons for existence" -- into three groups:  "Information Poor",
"Aspirants", and "Cosmopolitans".  Nowhere did "Shortwave Enthusiasts"
enter into the mix of audience demographics.  Those first two
categories, it was determined, didn't apply to we Americans /
Canadians.  The report then looked at how each demographic habitually
received its media.

Also, back then, the average weekly audience size for English lanuage
services in various regions was compared:  9 million for the Americas,
70 million for Asia/Pacific, and 47 million for Africa & the Middle
East.

Take those three "facts", or more correctly, those perceptions, add in
a helping of budgetary pressure, and you have a surefire recipe for
shortwave closedown to the Americas.

While that *explains* the Bush House rationale, it still doesn't
justify it.  Even if the Americas aren't worth 66.7 transmitter hours
per day, a  75% reduction -- to 17 transmitter-hours -- would be
enough to preserve *some* decent shortwave access for those motivated
to seek it out.

I'll send that old 2001 e-mail observation out in a separate e-mail. 
Unfortuantely the weblink that referred to the annual reviews in
question is no longer valid.

Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA

On 3/29/06, John Figliozzi <jfiglio1@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>  It is also a fact
> that the primary task of an institution founded on public service is
> to serve the public in every way possible.

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