Re: [Swprograms] Kim Andrew Elliott on VOA cuts

[jfiglio1@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

Staying on the case...and commenting on Richard's comments:

1.)  Hmmm.  GM as civic-minded rescuer of dying mass transit systems.  
Have to admit I've never seen GM in quite that way...    :-))

Weren't these the guys who used to say rather arrogantly, "What's good 
for GM is good for America"?

2.)  To clarify, the "one frequency per region" suggestion I posed was 
intended for more affluent areas also accessible via other media.  
Presumably, Africa and Asia would continue to receive the same multi-
frequency treatment they get now at least until their characteristics 
begin to resemble those others.  The point was to suggest that 
maintaining a global shortwave service in English is not the budget-
busting enterprise some opponents of such an option like to suggest.

3.)  I think Kim's larger point about Kavala was that if you were 
picking sites to mothball, Kavala is a particular hard loss given it's 
ability to be heard across a comparatively much wider swath of the 
globe.  I think the reception reports references were simply intended 
to reflect that geographical range, not address the "which audience 
are we reaching" question.

John Figliozzi 

----- Original Message -----
From: Richard Cuff <rdcuff@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Friday, May 5, 2006 0:59 am
Subject: Re: [Swprograms] Kim Andrew Elliott on VOA cuts
To: Shortwave programming discussion <swprograms@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

> On John's first simile, dealing with streetcars, here's a 
> different perspective.
> 
> Consider that many streetcar companies were purchased by GM in the
> 1950s because their owners (private and public) were poorly funded 
and
> didn't maintain the systems.  GM bailed out these ailing / bankrupt
> streetcar companies -- who were grateful for the cash -- and replaced
> the streetcars with GM-built buses.
> 
> On Scott's note, I have this additional thought.  In areas where 
> SW is
> still deemed desirable -- primarily Africa, South Asia, and the
> Pacific -- one presumes that inexpensive, analog multiband portables
> are probably what most folks have access to.  Will one frequency per
> target region be good enough for these folks on their analog
> portables?
> 
> If they can afford digitally tuned radios, they are more likely 
living
> in environments where FM / Worldspace / TV reception is doable for
> them.
> 
> Kim's comment about Kavala and the range of reception reports 
> needs to
> be kept in context -- I'd wager many of those reception reports --
> especially those from improbably locations came from hobbyists with
> decent equipment, not a remote villager with a cheap analog portable.
> 
> QSL reports as an accurate reflection of a listening demographic 
would
> be an interesting academic exercise, as well.  Over the years, what
> percent of QSL reports came from hobbyists vs. "villagers"?
> 
> While I don't have an Ev-DO connection...not yet anyway... I do use
> Replay Radio (http://www.replay-radio.com) and podcasts to digitally
> record, save and transfer audio to an MP3 player... with three clicks
> each evening I automagically record two BBC programs and either a CBC
> program (AIH) or Marketplace for the next day...rarely does the
> technology malfunction, and fading / propagation issues are
> nonexistent.
> 
> Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA  USA
> 
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