Apr 23, 2011
This programme was aired a few days after Radio Luxembourg's English service signed off from the highpower mediumwave channel of 1440 kHz, better known as the Great 208 (208 metres). The farewall show went on well into the night and contained some great stories of the English service in Luxy. The mediumwave transmitter in Marnbach is still there - I passed by on a trip to Luxembourg in the car a few years back. RTL German and China Radio International have used it since.
I find it interesting that nearly 20 decades after this programme was made, Holland still has a mediumwave service. They have reduced the power to keep the coverage down to just the Netherlands and I am sure there must come a day when Radio 5 from the public network vacates 747 kHz.
This programme also contains an illustrated interview with Richard Jackson about the decision by the Thai government to terminate the licences of 5 radio channels in the hope of raising the commercial revenue of the government station Radio Thailand.
Thank you for your very perceptive cmonemts about UNESCO and World Radio Day. I share some of your feelings about the rather lack-lustre event at SOAS in London, although many of the points made, especially by Birgitte Jallov, Guy Berger and Linje Manyozo were spot on. I agree that UNESCO's web efforts look very old fashioned. Where is the great new world of converged radio, the wonderful possibilities that the internet and mobile phones have brought to radio?! There is no feeling of excitement there - but there should be.