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The Media Network Vintage Vault 2024-2025


January 2024 - A message from Jonathan Marks, producer Media Network. 

Yes, we're still here although my other work has meant I have little time for shortwave these days. I've started sorting out some off-air archives in the audio-only selections. Episode 4 of the Media Network Series is the latest of the new Media Network videos. This is an occasional VIDEO series,  a mix of previously unseen videos from our archive, PLUS new material I have collected. This site will remain as the audio archive, and we will add the remaining editions of the Media Network First series and other material as well.

If you want to get notification of new editions, then sign-up today for the free Media Network Gossip Newsletter. We have also opened an email address for general feedback. I would like to understand how you use this site, and which programmes you like best. Just write to: medianetworknewseries@gmail.com

Here is a link to all the episode published so far. Click on the full-screen button to enjoy it fully. 

On The Shortwaves: The Best Index

A thousand thanks are due to Jerry Berg for compiling his brilliant 2021 Media Network index on his brilliant site On The Shortwaves and sharing it with the rest of the world. He also has a separate index to find contributions from Southern African reporter Richard Ginbey

Several people have pointed out that the masthead of this site - the Flevoland Transmitter Site - now looks very different.  The transmitter building is still there. But the huge curtain antennas shown have been demolished. For the full story watch Episode 3 video of the Second Series. 

But why is there a need for this site and a new series?

COVID-19 Lockdown has taught me the value of hobbies. In my case, it is the mechanical engineering side of model railways and the restoration of electric clocks. My third passion is unearthing untold stories about the medium of international broadcasting. The problem is that although this industry spent hundreds of millions of Euros shouting across borders for decades, very little of that enormous effort was kept in some form of a coherent collection.

There are some truly amazing Youtube channels emerging about restoring vintage radios to their former glory. For starters, I recommend checking out Mr Carlson's Lab or David Tipton. They are brilliant! And if you are interested in the stories from past audio technology in general, just follow (and support) Matt Taylor's Techmoan series. He occasionally picks up radios to explore. I can also recommend the excellent audio podcast "Cold War Conversations

But, unlike physical clocks and OO scale models, radios have no memory. They only pick up what's on right now. And shortwave radio in the last century was the ultimate in appointment listening. You had to be at exactly the right point on the dial, often at a peculiar time, with the right equipment and, even then, there was no guarantee reception would be good. 

I remember the late Gerald Wells, the British vintage wireless enthusiast, used to run a low-power mediumwave pirate radio station with dance band music from a shed in his garden. His reason was "you can get the radio working again, but few of the transmitters carved into the dial are still there". It's true, radio has a terrible memory. (I'm delighted to learn that the British Vintage Wireless Society is still going strong https://www.bvws.org.uk )

Now you know why I am publishing old editions of Media Network here on this site, as well as some of the off-air recordings of stations I monitored in the 80's and 90's as part of the research for the programme. I'm simply looking for ways to capture more unique stories that I believe need to be told before we all forget. I realise that in 1000 editions of Media Network, we had only just begun the scratch the surface. So at this time of reflection, I'd just like to thank everyone for their support and encouragement as the archive project enters a new phase.  

First time visitor?

I'm Jonathan Marks. If this is the first time you've visited the vault, then I'm glad you dropped by! There are over 650 editions of Media Network, representing just over half the episodes that we made and broadcast from the Radio Netherlands' studios in Hilversum. I'm pleased to say most survived in excellent studio quality (quite often in stereo). We had 5035 downloads in December 2021, which isn't bad for a vintage vault.

As you may know, I currently work with all kinds of high-tech scale-ups working in Photonics, Quantum and TeraHertz technologies in many parts of Europe, but especially in the Eindhoven and Enschede regions of the Netherlands. I'm particularly fascinated because this country is where international broadcasting started in Europe and where the long-range properties of shortwave radio were first discovered in 1926/1927.

Unfortunately, the ongoing COVID pandemic overshadowed many of the planned commemorations (75 years since liberation from Nazi occupation as well as 75 years of the UN). Hopefully, they will simply be postponed and not cancelled. 

Reliving Mainstream broadcast heritage from the 20th Century.

In early February 2010, I began an online experiment here on Libsyn with podcasting to understand how their distribution system works and see whether we could rebuild an audience. We wanted to recreate a place to listen to vintage editions of the Media Network programme as broadcast on short-wave by Radio Netherlands in the period 1981-2000. In May 2021 it was 40 years since "Media Network" was launched as the new name of the media show on Radio Netherlands, building on the rich heritage of programmes like DX Juke Box that went before it.

We ran the programme on the shortwave wireless from May 7th 1981 until the end of October 2000 with more than 1000 editions of the show.

Radio Netherlands no longer exists as a radio station in English in the way that we knew it. (They signed off at the end of June 2012 as documented on this site). The RN Classical Music station was around for a short while after, but that too had been yanked from the Interwebs. RNW Media left Hilversum in 2021 so very little is left.

However, I am delighted that many non-Media Network shows are being shared again at the Radio Netherlands Archives site. This is a private initiative by former members of the English department. Join me in raising a glass to the great days of analogue adventures!

As of January 2022, we have now reached more than a million downloads, numbers being boosted by interest in the programmes about Rwanda, Bhutan, South Africa, spy number stations and several documentaries about propaganda, during the Second World War and later.

Media Network - First of its kind

Media Network was one of the first international communications magazines of its time. I hosted and produced the programme, but a lot of the content was made by a network of volunteer monitors, reporters and researchers located all over the globe. Diana Janssen also joined me as co-host during the last 5 years of the programme. She made a considerable contribution to our success.

How did these shows survive the demise of Radio Netherlands?

I kept copies of most of the show, especially those that dealt with specific issues or were connected to current events in that period. Since leaving Radio Netherlands in 2003, I have gradually digitized the tapes as part of my research into international broadcasting and where it might go after shortwave. Personally, I find it amazing to relive this era, especially as most of it was pre-Web, pre-Zoom, pre-YouTube, pre-email when most people thought twice about picking up the phone to call a radio station in another country. There is also a lot to be learned from what worked and what failed. Too many recent media ventures could have learned a lot from those who went before them. 

I am always interested in your reactions, especially from people who may be discovering this material for the first time. It will encourage me to post more. Looking at the site stats, it would seem that around 15% of the subscribers are downloading via iTunes. The rest do so directly from the site or using 3rd party apps. Please tell friends about the vault and encourage them to subscribe. 

Finding a show 

This is a new form of the website now that Libsyn has updated the style of the podcast feeds. You can also subscribe in iTunes by searching for "Media Network Vintage". As each "new" edition is published, it will download automatically to your MP3-player of choice. I personally find the Downcast app to be the best for IOS. But other podcast apps are available.

I know some of the material here is niche stuff to many broadcasters - but I also know that people interested in international communications and broadcasting are very passionate people. Because of politics, it provided a constant wave of stories. I also believe that we developed one of the first collaborative formats on international radio, where individuals could do some detective work, report their results, and share experiences with those with a similar passion.

Happy Exploring and please share your adventures with us!

Jun 29, 2012

More photos of Friday's closedown are here on my Flickr account: 

Dropped by Radio Netherlands building for the last few minutes of their broadcasts in English. Did an interview with Jonathan Groubert, host of the State We're In, as he prepared a few words to add to the final broadcast towards Africa. Then went downstairs to an almost empty newsroom where Rob Kievit, producer of the last day, was making a few last minute preparations.

Then, we all joined Jonathan Groubert in Studio Booth Number 4 where English programmes (including news bulletins) have originated for decades. After Dheera's last words, Jonathan added one final thank you. I left a small audio recorder running to capture the moment for the history books. And so a bottle of champagne was opened, knocked back rather hurriedly, and then we all headed for the last train home. So ends an era. This recording captures the moments....before, during and after the final signoff.

I added a stereo copy of the Radio Netherlands interval signal, played on the carillion in Breda. I was actually present in the bell tower during the summer of 1985. It was one of the first all digital recordings we ever made. It replaced a worn out recording of the same tune which had been made in the 1950's at the cathedral in s'Hertogenbosch. The tape had stretched after being copied so many times. 

Thanks to Kai Ludwig in Germany for sending me a better copy of Jonathan Groubert's last words captured from the satellite. I've mixed them in. 


Anthony
almost eight years ago

I heard the final farewell broadcast on SW 6065 kHz to Europe from Wertachtal transmitter site in South Germany;very sad indeed.

Tim Wallace
nine and a half years ago

Just found this... A sad day but a nice recording. Really pleased that you attached the RNW interval signal at the end. That was always my favourite and it brings back good memories!

Saul Broudy
almost twelve years ago

Thank you, JM, for this inside glimpse of the "last moments". Very sad, indeed. Like Jay Vos, I had the opportunity of visiting RNW; played American folk music as part of the anniversary Open Day entertainment in (was it?) 1987. When Jonathan Groubert asked me if, as a shortwave listener, I would be visiting other European stations, I replied that only RNW felt like family to me. I wish everyone the best as I toast you with my RNW coffee mug. Thank you for the years of thoughtful and thought-provoking programs.

Kevin Anderson
almost twelve years ago

Thank you so much, Jonathan Marks, for capturing the very end of the RNW English Service. I was away from the computer in that last particular hour and had missed Jonathan G's closing remarks. Thank you for preserving these works. Sad. My nose and eyes watered at the end as I listened to your podcast. But I am trying to smile as Jonathan G. directed I should and will monitor their progress in the innovations to come. Cheers to you and everyone.

Dan McNulty
almost twelve years ago

Dear Jonathan: Thank you so much for capturing the final moments of Radio Netherlands. To all the people of radio netherlands..You Made A Difference In The World, You truly did. All the work from behind the scenes, the presentors, the radio tower technicians, the website staff, the many journalists, You ALL Made A Difference in people's lives around the world and you will ALL be missed. Radio Netherlands will remain in our hearts no matter how much time passes. To jonathan and everyone else at Radio Netherlands, Thank you for sharing all your wonderful talents with the rest of the world. Dan McNulty, Rosemount, Minnesota, USA.

Jay Vos
almost twelve years ago

To the Two Jonathans: Thanks. I've been listening to RNW sinct I was a child. Yes, I'm 64 years old now, and my family used to listen first to the shortwave programs in Dutch and English on my dad's huge Philips radio. My mother was American and my Dad was born in Zeeland. They died in the early 1990s so never heard the programs on the internet. But I continued to listen, even on short wave when I was camping in the Vermont woods. Yeah, Jonathan Groubert is right that RNW tried to save itself too late. But the in depth documentary programs at RNW were excellent journalism, sorely lacking today in commercial radio for sure, but also in a lot of public radio broadcasts in the USA. Back in the mid 1990s I visited the station and had a chance to meet several of your colleagues. David Swatling's arts programs were my favourites. I met him - he even treated me to a beer in Amsterdam. A the station, I was given a Radio Nederland Wereldomroep t-shirt. It's been worn a lot over the years... laundered so much that the logo colors are faded a bit; it's tattered, but I still wear it proudly. This week I've worn it in honor of you all. I've visited family and friends over the years, frequently. But that trip to Hilversum and meeting you all was one of my most memorable from visits to Holland. Oh, and Jonathan Groubert, I remember when you started at RNW for goodness sakes! Well done all. I better stop cuz I'm getting teary eyed and cannot read the keyboard. Tot ziens, y'all.

Juul Geleick
almost twelve years ago

Hi Jonathan,

Thanks for you nice words about a fine radio station.

Richard Cuff
almost twelve years ago

Very interesting interviews and perspectives, especially from the two Jonathans.

Steve Coombs
almost twelve years ago

Thanks for recording and making this available-a sad day