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[João Costa > CT1FBF]

Shortwave broadcasting 'of marginal and continuously declining impact'

The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) Special Committee on the
Future of Shortwave Broadcasting foresees a dim outlook for the
medium. The Committee this month released its assessment
http://www.bbg.gov/wp-content/media/ of the current and projected use
of shortwave radio as a platform for programming by US international
media.

"United States international media must optimize delivery by
audience/market," one main finding concluded. "While there is still a
critical need for shortwave in key countries, it is a medium of
marginal and continuously declining impact in most markets." The
report said that even in countries where shortwave radio will enjoys
significant usage levels, "audiences will migrate to other platforms
as they become more accessible."

Among other things, the Committee reviewed audience-based research,
including analysis of user experiences and user choices, as well as
opportunities and limits of the medium. It also examined "the
characteristics and listening experience of shortwave users in the
BBG's target markets, the use of shortwave radio by the BBG's
networks, the networks' relative success in reaching their target
audiences through shortwave, and the costs of operating the BBG's
shortwave transmitting facilities."

The panel recommended that the Broadcasting Board of Governors take
"an aggressive approach to reduce or eliminate shortwave broadcasts
where there is either minimal audience reach or the audience is not a
target audience based on the BBG's support of US foreign policy."

The report said that its evidence suggested that declining use of
shortwave radio is primarily due to the availability of high-quality
content on "preferred platforms" such as AM and FM radio, podcasts,
and mobile streaming, which are more widely used for audio
consumption.

The committee found that shortwave use does not increase during times
of crisis. "Audiences continue to use their existing platforms (TV,
FM, and the Internet) or seek out anti-censorship tools, including
online firewall circumvention, private chat software, flash drives,
and DVDs to access content," the report said.

The report also said that shortwave radio was "a relatively expensive
platform to operate and maintain" and that digital shortwave radio
(ie, Digital Radio Mondiale or DRM) "is unlikely to become an
established mass media distribution methodology in enough of the BBG's
current or future markets to justify the costs."

The committee said it largely supports the reductions in shortwave
radio broadcasts previously approved by the Board. Those include
recent cutbacks
http://www.arrl.org/news/voice-of-america-makes-more-cuts-to-international-shortwave-broadcast-schedule
in a number of Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and
Radio Free Asia broadcasts. But, the committee added that given the
current situation in Ukraine and nearby states with significant
Russian-speaking populations, it recommended that the BBG revise its
fiscal year 2014 operating plan to ensure that "shortwave broadcasts
in Russian to Russia and the Caucasus be continued at current levels,
subject to re-evaluation during FY16 budget formulation processes."

A fact sheet http://www.bbg.gov/wp-content/media/2014/08/SW-Report-fact-sheet.pdf
also is available. -- Thanks to Southgate Amateur Radio Club News via
G0SFJ

Source:
The ARRL Letter http://www.arrl.org/