Tuesday, July 17, 2007

VOA expands daily Somali broadcast


The Voice of America (VOA) has added 30 minutes to its daily Somali radio broadcast, providing a full hour of live, up-to-the-minute news and information to listeners. VOA Somali currently airs from 1600-1700 UTC, with a repeat broadcast at 1700 UTC.
The additional half hour, 1630 to 1700 UTC, includes a wider variety of listener interactives, such as call-ins, roundtable discussions, and debates on topics ranging from health, education, and youth to business and development. Weekend programming will offer in-depth discussions and interviews focusing on the interests and needs of Somalis.
“Listener response to our programs has been overwhelming,” said VOA Somali Service Chief Fred Cooper. “They appreciate the accurate, balanced, and timely news and information we provide and continue to ask for more,” he added.
VOA’s Somali Service was launched on February 12, 2007. Broadcasts are available on AM 1431 kHz, FM and shortwave radio frequencies 13580 and 15620 kHz [sic. See update below]. The 1700 UTC broadcast repeats on HornAfrik (88.8 FM in Mogadishu), a VOA-affiliated station.
(Source: VOA/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)