Dan Say wrote in message news:clmqmm$ik4
Countries are finding that none of their
nationals are listening, Germans not listening
to DW, Brits not listening to BBCWS etc.
So the most important self-market is lost.

Is that actually true? I can think of several fellow British people
who have reason to be abroad reguarly every year who rely on the BBC
World Service to hear news not only from their home broadcaster, but
also British news. This is the same for friends who just go on
holiday for a few weeks. Sure, BBC World and Prime may be available
in their hotel rooms abroad but thats all international perspective.

Many international broadcasters still recognise foreign nationals and
ex-pats as being important. Although Radio Vlaanderen Internationaal
are killing the majority of their output, what will be left of the
Flemish service apparently has one sole target area. South and South
East Europe. Where most Belgians go on vacation.

International SW broadcasting still has various purposes, IMO:

* As mentioned above - nationals abroad. No one else is going to
serve them.
* International news for an international audience. If BBC World is
going to exist happily on TV, why shouldn't BBC World Service on
radio? I'll hold back on dozens of other examples
* As you say, serving rural areas, freedom-suppressed regions. It's
more important than just building diplomacy though, some people depend
on SW as a lifeline, the ONLY way they can get any sort of real news
and education.

If people are turning away from shortwave (of which there is no
doubt), a big part of that will be the technology. SW used to be good
enough. But AM broadcasting on SW is ancient. Satellite sounds much
better. Even low-bitrate net streams sound a damn sight better than a
distant SW transmission. That's where DRM is going to be crucial.
It's going to make international broadcasting listenable again,
attractive again. It will have the advantages of satellite and
internet radio as far as audio quality is concerned, with all the
portability of REAL radio. And theres no doubt that in a short space
of time, DRM receivers will become affordable in poorer areas of the
world.

It's shortsighted to write off DRM so soon. It must be given a
chance.

Stephen H