HCJB Abandons North America and Europe

A bombshell was announced on the April 19 DX Partyline: after many months of study prompted by Dave Johnson, new director of parent organization World Radio Missionary Fellowship, it was decided to cancel English language broadcasts to Europe and North America after the end of May. English will remain on the air from Australia, but Quito productions such as DX Partyline and Ham Radio Today will also be terminated.* (See Latebreaking News)

Thus ends a 72-year history of worldwide broadcasting from Ecuador, as HCJB's mission has been redefined to concentrate on Spanish, Portuguese and Quichua to South America. Remaining English production resources will be put into a language-teaching program. It was likely that a morning program in English would continue, perhaps audible into the southern US, but aimed at missionaries rather than the general listenership.

This results from an audit, not financial, but a "ministry audit" to review how the organization's resources should be spent. Less should be spent on SW, more on local stations, satellite network, internet ministry, was the conclusion.

It may be four or five years before the Pifo transmitter site has to be torn down, as construction of the new airport is delayed. Since HCJB no longer will be carrying out extensive SW broadcasts from Ecuador, Project SERVE, to build a new transmitter site on the coast at Santa Elena, has also been shelved, although the undeveloped property will be retained in case needed later. However, the possibility exists of setting up additional sites, such as the northeast coast of Brazil, or somewhere closer to the Caribbean.

One rationale put forward for this is that there is no dearth of Christian radio in the US, so HCJB is not really needed here. No argument on that, but HCJB is needed for at least a smidgin of Latin American culture and news presented in English. Unfortunately, that has always been secondary, and now, obviously, dispensable. Now we are left with nothing but Radio Habana Cuba, and (if we can get it), RAE, Argentina, as national external services in English from Latin America.

This is the gist of a conversation between Curt Cole, International Radio Director for the Latin American Region, and DXPL host Allen Graham. Cole concluded by saying:

"I know that some listeners will think this is the worst decision HCJB has ever made. But it was not made lightly. There have been months, years, of research. We do want to hear from everybody. Listeners are welcome to write to Curt Cole, or DXPL, to voice their opinion, but it will not be overturned. This is something we are going to do. Radio HCJB, Box 17-17-691, Quito, Ecuador, or dxpl@hcjb.org.ec Feel free to let us have it with both barrels; that's fine. Some will understand, some will not.

"Thanks to Allen for all the hard work he has put into DXPL over the years, one of our mainstay programs, and to all the previous hosts, a program that has had significant impact in the SW world. Don't blame Allen – it's not his decision. From those who believe in it, prayers are appreciated; these are not easy days."

Although not mentioned on this show, I'll bet one of the justifications for dropping English to North America was that the BBC did; Switzerland did; Germany did; it's snowballing.

Goodbye to one of the first shortwave stations many of us ever heard or QSLed -- with its once outstanding signal almost every night. And to one of the most popular and long-running DX programs, now history along with those of WNYW, Radio Australia, Radio Sweden, Radio Netherlands, VOA. . . The final DXPLs are UT Sun June 1 at 0000 and 0300 on 9745.

Latebreaking News -

MT was glad to receive the following message at the end of May:

As you may know, this was to have been the last broadcast of the DX Partyline, kind of ironic in a way when you think about the fact that the program is celebrating its 42nd birthday. However, as I mentioned last week, thanks to the thoughtful letters and e-mails from many of you, several options were considered which I shared with you last Saturday.

The DX Partyline will definitely be continued via the transmitters of HCJB World Radio Australia in Kununurra, Australia at the current schedule. However, the program schedule will expand in July and the times will shift. I will let you know about these changes via the program and the DX Partyline homepage.

The program will air as part of the reduced morning release to Central and South America, which is really serving the English-speaking missionary audience. This broadcast is Saturday at 1230 UTC on 15115 kHz. For my listening friends in North America, it will be rather strange to share breakfast with you on Saturday morning after so many years of evening dessert, but I'm looking forward to it! I'm thankful to Jeff Ingram, Director of the English Language Service, for making this time slot available for the program. Allen Graham

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