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The Media Network Vintage Vault 2024-2025


November 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. 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 660 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). 

Jun 17, 2012

Just before the influence of Enver Hoxha collapsed in Albania, the external service Radio Tirana was one of the largest broadcasters in Europe, with a massive megaWatt transmitter operating on 1395 kHz. My colleague, Wolf Harranth of ORF Vienna, wrote to them and managed to get hold of a studio tape of part of one of the last English broadcasts under the old guard. The Albanian English language announcers had never been abroad. They were apparently trained by an Australian Marxist, which explains their strange Australian accent. This 5 minute tape consists of the opening, a very funny Lets Learn Albanian lesson (what were they thinkiing?) and the grand sign-off. Haven't heard this for years. Anyone else remember this stuff? Makes a change from Glee.


jon
almost nine years ago

Wow ... Thanks for making this available.

It must be 30 years since I heard the sign-off music, but it was still very familiar even if it sounded a little strange without all of the shortwave static. It would have been even better if there was a report of the increased output from the tractor factory, but you can't have everything.

Simon Mason
ten and a half years ago

Managed to drive to Albania in 2012 to visit my boyhood "heroes" - great memories.

Phillip Dampier
almost thirteen years ago

What a pity the tape didn't contain some of the gems of socialist snooze -- the heavy propaganda and impenetrable agricultural reports the station used to air.

That stuff is fun to play to disbelieving westerners who can't imagine anyone sitting through it.

But our concept of "news" and that elsewhere can be very different things. Try listening to an English All India Radio hourly newscast. Watching paint dry is more interesting.

Jim Davies
almost thirteen years ago

Wonderful. I remember those stern trumpetting blasts when listening as a teenager and wondering just how hard life might be in such a cold-sounding country if their radio broadcasts were anything to go by. I remember a film review programme, and on reflection wonder if it came from the same programming meeting as the Learn Albanian course.