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The Board of state broadcaster NRK yesterday decided on heavy budget cuts for
2002 to bring it in balance. Some regional radio programmes will be merged,
and all regional stations will have their budgets cut. To an international
audience, the most shocking news is that Radio Norway International will be
completely closed from Jan. 1st. Transmitter costs are said to run to 40 mill
NOK annually. But NRK will have to negotiating with transmitter provider
Norkring and also Radio Denmark to close at this time. Norkring have a
contract for running the transmitters until 31/12-2003. Radio Denmark have a
contract with NRK for leasing of transmission time for the same period, paying
some 25 mill kroner annually. So here some instant negotiations will have to
be carried out!
This is from the "Cumbre DX" shortwave email newsletter... Kvitsoy-1314 is to
be taken off the air on New Year's Eve...
The staff of 7 at Radio Norway International have been informed that the
station will not exist after Jan. 1st, and have been transferred to a
"job-bank" for employment elsewhere in the broadcast organisation. So it seems
the decision to end the foreign service is definite. Veteran broadcaster Einar
Lie will host the final programmes on New Years Eve.
The decision also affects the 1.2 MW mediumwave transmitter at Kvitsoy Island
(1314 kHz). This is also planned to be switched off on New Years Eve,
alongside the four SW-txs at Kvitsoy and Sveio. The two sites employ a staff
of 18 (13 at Kvitsoy, 5 at Sveio). At the remote Kvitsoy Island, the station
is a very vital employer, and a closedown will have great impact on the
community.
Time will show what will actually happen. It seem definite that Radio Norway
International will close by New Year, but to meet contracts with Norkring/DR,
it is possible that the transmitters will continue to be on air, but with only
relay of some domestic programmes. (Bernt Erfjord, Norway Dec 6)
Randy Stewart/Springfield MO
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Visit the new National Radio Club site
http://www.nrcdxas.org
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