Shortwave broadcasters should use relevant content to compete with other delivery platforms such as satellite and the Internet, a conference in Kuala Lumpur has heard. The acting Secretary-General of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), David Astley, said the competition was not only in the method of delivery but in the content provided. “The content needs to be relevant to the targeted audiences so that listenership is enhanced and there is a positive movement towards shortwave radio listening” he told the 6th Global Shortwave Coordination Conference.
The conference brings together three coordination groups: HFCC from Europe, ASBU from the Arab states and ABU-HFC from the Asia-Pacific region. Together they coorsinate around 90 percent of the world’s shortwave frequency hours. The three groups look at ways of reducing interference on frequencies used for around 7,000 shortwave radio transmissions that are put out by the broadcasters every day.
This is the third time the Global Conference has been held in Kuala Lumpur and the second time the ABU has hosted it. More than 55 broadcasters - including RNW - represented by 115 frequency managers are taking part. The conference runs until 5 February.
(Source: Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)