RADIO NETHERLANDS PROGRAMME INFORMATION RELEASE AUGUST-SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1990 In this issue: - Programme previews - The Europe Series - Summer Frequency Details - Brief Encounters - New Publications Introduction This bulletin is a run-down of the programmes you can expect to hear over the next few weeks on Radio Netherlands. This is the ANARC BBS edition of the release, and may differ from releases you see in printed form (released much earlier to meet printing deadlines). Note that our broadcast times are given in UTC, which is the same as Greenwich Mean Time. Programme Line-Up With one exception (0830 UTC to the Pacific), all English broadcasts are 55 minutes long. From Monday - Saturday inclusive, all transmissions begin with a bulletin of world news. This is followed by +Newsline+, a 14 minute review of current events. The programme includes on-the-spot correspondent reports, interviews, and commentaries by our own in-house specialists. The Newsline teams includes, Ginger da Silva, Herrie ten Kate, Robert Green, Harry Kliphuis, Marijke van de Meer, and Luc Lucas. Special editons for Africa (aired at 1630, 1830 & 2030 UTC) are prepared by John Hammond and Jimmy Ocitti. Transmissions at at 0830 (not 9770 kHz), 1130 & 1430 UTC carry a Newsline edition with Dheera Sujan and Larry Jagan specially catered to the needs of listeners in Asia. After Newsline , most transmissions continue with a 31 minute feature programme, as detailed below. MONDAY +Research File+ is one of Europe+s leading science programmes. The regular producer & host is Anne Blair Gould, and she is assisted by a team of reporters worldwide. The programme covers a wide variety of fields including astronomy, medicine, consumer technology, and the environment. The programme format is flexible, ranging from a magazine-style presentation of shorter items (including updates on earlier stories), to in-depth on-location documentaries. Here's a preview of what's on the planning list: On August 13th Jonathan Marks takes a fresh look at fungus (!). The Research File broadcast on August 20th is a special about SMELLS ...it examines their natural function, and the reason why eighteenth century scientists collected SMELLS in bottles? Is there really any psychology behind naming a perfume Egoist or Poison ? Anne Blair Gould wanders through a garden of lavenders and roses, peppermint and fennel, arum lilies and plants that smell of rotting flesh. If you have a specific question about smells you'd like us to consider call our answerline on Hilversum 724222 or fax the facts to Hilversum 724352. You could be part of the War on the Noses, on the air on August 20th. The show on August 27th reviews Holland's Science Line , and there's a new look at Evolution, God & computer programmes. September 3rd sees a programme in which Anne Blair Gould examines stress in humans and dolphins. The programme on September 10th will include material from the British Association for the Advancement of Science conference in Swansea, UK. On 17 September Nina Morgan and Jonathan Marks report from the Research Nuclear Reactor at Petten on the North Sea Coast. Tune in on October 1st for Ringing the Changes . Jonathan Marks reports from the south of the Netherlands were the latest technology is being used to make and test carillons. TUESDAY Tuesdays are devoted to the arts and culture in Europe. Images keeps abreast of what is happening in opera, ballet theatre and music with interviews, news and actuality. The programme is produced by Nevil Gray with an able team of reporters in Holland and in the various European capitals. Images will keep you informed and entertained. WEDNESDAY Wednesday programming contains a variety of features throughout the year. From now until September 5th we focus on the Netherlands Antilles and Surinam. We are now in the final decade of the century of decolonisation. Yet the Kingdom of the Netherlands still extends to the 6 islands of the Netherlands Antilles. While the former colony Surinam became independent in 1975, the islands of Curaiao, Aruba, Bonaire, St Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius are Dutch - for the time being. Just what that will mean in political terms in the future is now being negotiated Also party to the talks are the governments of Venezuela and France, both +neighbours+ to the Dutch in the Caribbean. A shifting political spectrum, the War on Drugs, and a new approach to development aid are on the agenda at these high-level meetings. The story from within both the young nation of Surinam and the administrative entity of the Antilles, is one of a rich mosaic of communal, linguistic and religious practices. Martha Hawley will be speaking with cultural, political and social leaders, along with the citizen in the street, aiming to present an accurate and honest picture of the region. On September 12, 19 & 26th we present Brief Encounters , three programmes presented by Pete Myers. Pete is one of the few people in the English Service who keeps a diary. In over 3 decades of international radio broadcasting, Pete has had various encounters with the famous and the infamous...like the job offer he got from Idi Amin, or being screamed at by Nina Simone at 30,000 feet. Illustrated with anecdotes and relevant music, make a date with Pete Myers for 30 minutes of the incredible, and amusing! Starting October 3rd, Ginger da Silva will be presenting Home, Market & Family . It is a series about European integration. The first programme deals with the history of the European Community, starting after World War II. It examines how the institutions and goals have developed from the days of the European Coal & Steel Community to the current momentum towards establishing a single market. Will it really mean a free flow of goods, money, and people throughout the EEC at the end of 1992. In subsequent programmes Ginger will travel to each of the 12 member countries to find how the various members view this fast evolving community. Will Italian eat more Dutch cheese, will Belgians still feel Belgians, and is it all a German plot? Join Ginger to find out. THURSDAY Media Network. Jonathan Marks hosts this weekly award- winning survey of communication developments compiled with the assistance of over 180 monitors across the globe. The audio magazine runs on enthusiasm, building on more than 30 years of experience in this field of programming. +Media Network+ reflects the trends within the media business both in The Netherlands and around the world. On August 2nd Jonathan reports on the problems facing radio in Kashmir, and tests going on in Florida to put FM onto AM On August 23rd we report from the Firato, Amsterdam's audio and video fair. Has DAT been launched to the consumers in Europe yet? How eager are the Europeans about HDTV? The programme on September 6th looks at the jingle and promo industry in Europe & North America. Jim Cutler and Jonathan Marks explore both sides of the Atlantic radio market. September 13th contains news from the World Radio TV Handbook editorial office in Amsterdam. On September 20th, Lou Josephs has an update on the NAB programmers conference in Boston, and we look at the radio scene in Ireland. Is it as profitable as it was expected to be. The edition broadcast on September 28th will include Asian media news from Victor Goonetilleke. A new season of Media Network starts on October 4th with a special programme dedicated to those new to the field of international radio listening. We'll be passing on tips on writing to stations, and exploding more myths that surround the world of DXing . In the coming months the programme will tackle topics such as digital audio from satellites, the high definition TV developments, and the changes to the radio scene in Eastern Europe. There is a regular mix of news editions and full- length documentaries. FRIDAY Caribbean, Pacific & North America: Rembrandt Express is the weekly magazine show named after Holland's most renowned artist. Barry O'Dwyer is currently in the driving seat to guide the express down new paths. If you're interested in the social aspects of life, plus a glimpse at the entertainment scene, make a date for Fridays. OR Asian Transmissions Only : The Asian department team, including Carl Josephs, Dheera Sujan, and Larry Jagan are the voices you'll hear regularly on Asiascan , the weekly 45 minute live magazine show presenting news and features covering Asia & Europe. Look out for special profiles of leading Asian personalities. OR African Transmissions Only : Airtime Africa is a topical review of events concerning Europe & Africa. Over the next six months look out for more in-depth documentaries on AIDS in Africa, the problems of literacy in Africa, drug smuggling, and refugees. Your host is Veronica Wilson. SATURDAY Over To You is our listener contact programme. We welcome reactions to our transmissions, and questions about Holland. The entire production is spiced with music. We also phone listeners to get their opinions direct so, if possible, include a phone number when you write. You can also try the 24 hr listener answer line. Dial the international exchange code (e.g. 011 in USA, 010 in Britain), followed by 31 for Holland, 35 which is the area code for Hilversum, then the subscriber number 724222. You then have 90 seconds to leave a message which may be used on the air. SUNDAY All transmissions carry Happy Station ; family entertainment with music, birthday mentions, and competitions hosted by shortwave personality Tom Meyer. This is international radio's longest running show, having first hit the airwaves in 1928! BACKGROUND NOTES Shortwave radio antennas beam most of their energy in a specific direction. This helps to ensure the best possible signal strength in the target area. But that doesn't rule out reception of our broadcasts in other parts of the world. Listeners in North America can often hear the 1430 UTC transmission beamed to Asia via Madagascar, for instance. Early risers in North America often tune in at 1030 UTC. International radio listening has never been better! Modern radios making tuning much easier, and the variety of programmes has improved considerably during the last decade. Radio Netherlands publishes a number of free brochures to help introduce newcomers to the world of international radio. They are non-technical and free. For details, ask for the Listeners Services Catalogue . The 0030 UTC English broadcast to North America is now available in the United States through the C-SPAN audio channel 1 on Saturday and Sunday nights only. If you would like relays on other evenings, we would be interested to hear from you. The recently launched service is now being offered to cable companies across the US. If your cable company offers C-SPAN television, call your local cable operator and ask about the availability of the audio service. RECEIVER SHOPPING LIST Two years ago we published the last edition of the Receiver Shopping List, a free consumer guide to radio receivers on the market. At the start of 1989 we stopped sending it out because there were so many changes in the market place that the information was no longer current, and indeed was by then misleading. At the same time building work at Radio Netherlands plus a change to a more sophisticated computer system meant that our planned release of a new edition never got off the ground. But that is past tense. The new 12th edition of the Receiver Shopping List is now back from the printers. The new list includes price checks made in Holland, Canada, Britain, the US, Japan, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia. From the research it is clear that a huge price rift across the Atlantic. In the US, for instance, the top of the line radio from Kenwoood, the R-5000, is around US$ 850.00. In Britain it's u875, which makes it some 50% dearer. These giant differences cannot be accounted for simply in different rates of exchange or extra purchase tax. In the shopping list we+ve marked as many prices as we can so that if you have the opportunity to travel you can take advantage of the price differences. We also discuss warranties too. We+ve examined shortwave in car radios in more detail with this edition of the shopping list too. If you'd like a copy all you have to do is drop us a line, and we'd be happy to send you one. This edition is certainly a lot different to previous efforts. At 56 pages its the largest we've ever compiled, and it has been printed out on a laser printer to make it as clear as possible to read. Its designed to help you choose a shortwave radio anywhere between 50 and 5000 dollars, it offers advice on what to look for, and there's a comprehensive section on finding parts for older sets. Our next goal in the coming years is to add photos of the receivers, but that adds to the cost and being a public radio station we cannot legally ask listeners to pay for services we provide. We think we've struck a workable compromise though, and we look forward to your reaction. The address is simple......English Section, Radio Netherlands, Box 222, 1200 JG Hilversum, The Netherlands. And ask for the Receiver Shopping List Edition 12. THE CURRENT SCHEDULE Radio Netherlands broadcasts daily in 7 languages. As from the new summer schedule valid from 25th March 1990 we are dropping the early morning new broadcast to the Middle East. Once Newsline expands to include regular editions especially for Asia, we will discontinue broadcasting the Rembrandt Express programme to Europe on Fridays at 1130 UTC. We are aware that the timings of our English language broadcasts are not ideal for a European audience. We are currently negotiating better technical solutions, since we do not have the facilities to provide the kind of service we would like. Shortwave is not the medium to reach English speaking target areas such as Britain. The Netherlands is too close, and during the winter months signals don't propagate reliably at all. Watch future editions of this schedule for further announcements. In the meantime, the frequencies of 9715 and 5955 kHz remain beamed to Europe at 1130 UTC. Summer English Schedule March 25th - September 30th 1990 ! All transmissions are 55 minutes long, except the 0830 UTC transmission to the Pacific which runs Mon-Sat for 25 minutes. TRANSMISSIONS HEARD IN NORTH AMERICA (times in UTC) 1030 Australia/Caribbean.......B11890, B6020 2030 West Africa......................F15560, F13700, F9860 0030 Eastern N. America ........B15560, B6165, F6020 0330 Western N. America........B9590, B6165. Key: The letters before each frequency indicate the transmitter site. F= Flevo, The Netherlands. B=Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, M=Madagascar. You can send messages through the ACE or Pinelands Bulletin Boards, or via MCI Mail to Jonathan Marks 338-2983. You can phone the Radio Netherlands answerline on +31 35 724222 (24 hrs a day). You can also write to English Section, Radio Netherlands, P.O. Box 222, 1200 JG Hilversum, The Netherlands. + 1990 CMC 4 Radio Netherlands