ARLA/CLUSTER: Radio Sawa vai só transmitir em Ondas Médias e FM regionalmente para o Iraque

[João Costa > CT1FBF]

Radio Sawa to scale back regional broadcasts

To save $9.5 million in 2019, the U.S. government’s Arabic language
broadcaster *Radio Sawa* plans to restrict its FM and AM transmissions to
Iraq. This will mean the end of Radio Sawa’s radio service, AM and FM, to
the rest of the Middle East.

In addition, Radio Sawa’s country-centric feeds for Egypt, the Gulf,
Jordan, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco and Sudan will be terminated, both on
air and online at www.radiosawa.com. The remaining Radio Sawa Iraq feed
will be streamed.

Cuts to Radio Sawa are part of a bigger reduction for the Broadcasting
Board of Governors in proposed federal budgets for FY 2018 and 2019.
Billing itself as “America’s civilian international media agency,� the BBG
oversees the Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
(RFE/RL), Radio Free Asia (RFA), Alhurra TV and Radio Sawa (under Middle
East Broadcasting Networks — MBN), and Radio and TV Martí. The BBG budget
was proposed at $661.1 million for FY 2019, down from $685.2 million in
2018 and $786.6 million in 2017.

A BBG information page says, “Radio Sawa attracts young audiences by
playing contemporary Arabic and Western music with news and information
programs. It is one of the most popular radio stations in the countries
where it can be heard on FM.� So why is the BBG reducing Radio Sawa from a
Middle Eastern regional broadcaster to an Iraq-only station?

“Tough trade-offs are always necessary in austere budget climates,� replied
Nasserie Carew, BBG’s director of global communications and public affairs.
“But BBG and MBN leadership are committed to and will continue reaching
people in media-restrained countries.�

With money being tight, Radio Sawa’s non-Iraq radio broadcasts were a
natural target, according to interested observers.

“Eliminating the Radio Sawa network of transmitters in all countries except
Iraq will save almost $5 million,� said Kim Andrew Elliott. He’s a retired
VOA audience research analyst and broadcaster who now produces Shortwave
Radiogram a weekly program of text and images via analog shortwave radio.

“Radio Sawa uses leased FM transmitters in Arab countries, plus mediumwave
(AM) relays,� he said, “and these are expensive.�

More of the article here:
https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/radio-sawa-to-scale-back-regional-broadcasts
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