既にいくつかの情報が出ているが、IBBはこの6月30日で大幅な短波放送の削減を行う。アジア向けの英語放送はすべて廃止となる模様、現在2200-0200と1200-1600の放送されているVOAのアジア向けはlearning enlishを含めすべて消える予定。
またアゼルバイジャン語、ベンガル語、クメール語、クルド語、ラオ語、ウズベク語が、VOA、RFE / RLとRFAからも消え去るようだ。廃止されるのは短波放送のみでインターネット上では続けられる。
VOA gave this memo to staff on Friday: "FAREWELL TO SHORTWAVE
We were informed late Friday that BBG’s proposed shortwave cuts for FY2014 have been approved by Congress.
As of the end of the day on Monday, June 30th, all shortwave frequencies for English News programs to Asia will be eliminated. We will no longer be heard via shortwave in the morning (12-16 utc), and the evening (22-02utc)…mostly in Asia.
Shortwave frequencies for the following services will also be eliminated: Azerbaijani, Bangla, English (Learning), Khmer, Kurdish, Lao and Uzbek. Shortwave being used by services at RFE/RL and RFA are also being cut.
Because shortwave has been a cheap and effective way to receive communications in countries with poor infrastructure or repressive regimes, it was a good way to deliver information. But broadcasting via shortwave is expensive, and its use by listeners has been on the decline for years. At the BBG, the cost vs. impact equation no longer favors broadcasts via this medium to most of the world.
Important for us is that we will continue to be heard on shortwave frequencies during those hours we broadcast to Africa. Also, we know through our listener surveys that about half of our audience in Asia and the rest of the world listens to us via the web and podcast – so all is not lost.
Let’s break the news about this change to our audiences starting Sunday night. I doubt specific frequencies are critical to announce. The important point to make for our listeners is that we encourage their continued listening through local affiliates, and on the web at voanews.com."