DAB for North Wales

Ofcom this week confirmed the award of the new local Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) radio multiplex licence for North Wales to the sole applicant MuxCo Wales.

MuxCo Wales Limited is owned jointly by Town and Country Broadcasting Limited (70%) and MuxCo Ltd (30%)

MuxCo proposes to commence the new service with six local digital sound programme services within two years of licence award, using a network of two transmitters providing DAB "outdoor" coverage to an unusaully low 50% of the adult population of the licensed area.

Included in the radio stations proposed for the new network are the broadcasts from UCB UK.

MuxCo also proposes to provide "a wide selection of speech and music podcasts provided by a range of companies".

New Shows on Cross Rhythms

Cross Rhythms Radio have announced two new shows coming to air in September.

Music artist and writer Shell will host a half hour show which will go out every week. The show - alongside great music, fun and guests - will particularly focus on the issues and pressures facing young girls today. Shell was in girl group tbc and now has a fantastic solo album out 'Have You Heard'. She writes books and also on the Cross Rhythms website.

Julia Fisher hosts the all new Close Encounters on Cross Rhythms. Julia will be digging deep under the surface of seemingly ordinary lives to discover the amazing true life experiences that have radically changed them, and hearing the songs that carry deep meaning for their journey. Everybody has a story to tell, and everybody's story is different, so tune in for inspiring, emotive, heart warming, and occasionally unbelievable stories of everyday people who have seen their lives totally transformed through a deeply spiritual experience - something we call, a Close Encounter!.

Radio Aid Continues to China

China's Sichuan province was struck by a massive earthquake in May.

Shortly after the disaster, FEBC began airing specially designed programs to help those in need. Programming included a disease prevention and control program hosted by an experienced medical doctor.

Although it has been more than a month since the earthquake hit, some people have yet to receive assistance. When FEBC Chinese Programming staff visited listeners affected by the earthquake, they learned that some churches had not received relief from the government. FEBC staff are now giving support directly to those churches and partnering with two local medical and relief organisations.

Radios are a lifeline to emergency and health information and to spiritual encouragement. FEBC is committing to distributing 20,000 radios to survivors. and has already distributed more than 1,200 radios.

Another new program, Rekindle Your Heart, will soon be on the air. This is a daily 30-minute broadcast designed to deeply encourage and restore listeners, and includes live interviews with earthquake victims.

FEBC Chinese Programming have also created a special CD, with content on Post Traumatic Stress and related topics, which are being distributed throughout Sichuan Province.

• FEBC

Gospel 4 Grampian

Gospel4Grampain invites you to tune in today at 4.30 -6pm for Friday Live Drive, a program packed withInspiring annecdotes, music, news, sport weather, bible focus and great music.

Gospel4Grampian broadcasts online with both windows media and mp3 audio.

Drop them an email - they'd love to know you are listening. And if you have any dedications I'll you'll get a mention themduring the show.

This coming Wednesday 7pm-9m is Gospel4Grampian Requests- your best opportunity for requests and dedications

WMA Streaming: http://89.249.68.17/gospel4grampian
mp3 Streaming: SpacialNet: G4GRadio1

Gospel4Grampian - Community Gospel Radio for NorthEast Scotland
Delivering God's Gift of Good News 4 You
www.g4g.org.uk

Latin American Satellite Network Conference

In Quito, Ecuador, HCJB Global Voice recently hosted a conference for its affiliates in the Latin American Satellite Network (ALAS).

Seventy-two people from nine different countries attended the fourth Congreso de Comunicación Radial Cristiana ALAS-HCJB on June 12-14, a conference held every other year.

Allen Graham, HCJB's Regional Director for Radio Training, said the conference is a special time of radio training, idea-sharing, and Christian fellowship. Unfortunately, fewer people than usual were able to attend the conference this year due to increased travel prices.

Those who were able to make it enjoyed the time together and left with tools they can use to improve what they're doing at their radio station, and impact their audiences for Christ.

Conference attendees left with new inspiration and encouragement. "I'm going to be going back to my country now with new challenges and new goals in the Lord, in terms of how I can use radio to impact my audience with the message of Jesus Christ," said one.

The conference covered subjects like creativity and production in radio, Christian music, and using the radio to mobilize the church for evangelism. At the end of the conference, HCJB unveiled the redesigned ALAS website.

The ALAS Network has more than 80 affiliates throughout the Spanish-speaking world, in Spain, the southwest United States, and fourteen countries in South and Central America. One station in Peru is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, while another station in Peru recently received its license.

Beaming deeper into Africa

TWR - Trans World Radio - have been working on their Monte Carlo transmitter to increase the strength of their signal into Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and other parts of north Africa - with a potential of reaching 15 million new people.

Many of the people in reach of these signals have never had the Gospel in their own language before - and many cannot read. TWR currently broadcast in Arabic and four different Berber dialects.

Presently the TWR aerial system is omni directional. The increase in signal strength is being achieved by changing the aerial system to a directional beam.

The importance of this project was confirmed by a Moroccan man who had come to know Christ through a radio broadcast. For ten years, that man had no fellowship with other Christians, and it was only through radio that he had fellowship. Radio can go places missionaries often can't.

TWR has also delivered radio/CD players to Morocco and Algeria, along with a CD of TWR programming. If broadcast signals are weak, listeners can still hear the programs. In addition, several hundred pre-fixed radios are being readied for distribution throughout North Africa.

TWR know through anecdotal evidence that people are coming to know Jesus and that churches are being planted. They contact TWR in many different ways, and when they do, they are asking for more programs so that they can hear what God has for them.

Producers are focusing their radio program content towards women, youth, oral-speakers, and the general public.

Changing the way we Communicate

Thursday, June 5, 2008
Innovative leaders gather to change the way
the Church communicates with the World
By Michael IrelandChief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

POMPANO BEACH, FLORIDA (ANS) -- Fifty-five leaders from 49 organizations met last week to "ignite a global movement of visual story for the sake of Christ's kingdom."

The Visual Story Network Summit was a unique gathering of Christian leaders representing mission groups, Bible agencies, creative networks, media producers, filmmakers, distributors, universities, churches and television broadcasters.

Leaders responded to the need for new ways to contextualize the gospel in an increasingly visual world.

"These participants are among the most innovative thinkers and practitioners in the world. They understand the need to move beyond 'preach' and 'print' to 'portray,'" said Clyde Taber, Executive Director for the Visual Story Network.

At the Summit, significant relationships were begun among experts who care deeply about the Kingdom and the power of visual story.

"Great conference!" Shane Sooter of City on a Hill Productions commented. "I'm still buzzing with the possibilities. The networking and connections alone made it worth my time, but the potential for the future is the real prize."

During the Summit, strategy groups formed to focus on North America, global opportunities, training visual communicators and facilitating communication and collaboration. Next steps for the Visual Story Network include a regional event in Dallas in the fall, developing an online networking platform and expanding partnerships with other innovative organisations.

"Though challenged by discerning the best approach in moving forward together, I'm thrilled by the deep desire among these men and women to work together more effectively," Taber said.

The American Bible Society, Youth with a Mission, Highway Video, Asbury College, Sermonspice, SAT 7, Navigators, JESUS Film Project, Northland Church, Igniter Media, Good News Productions, Hollywood Connect and Mission America were among the organisations involved.

The Visual Story Network is a coalition of missional and creative leaders working together to help the body of Christ more effectively harness the power of story in visual media for the Kingdom of God. The event was hosted by the Book of Hope at the Marie Green Forum for Global Missions in Pompano Beach, Florida.

For more information contact Shirin Taber at shirin@visualstory.org , +1 949 235 5148,
or view http://www.visualstorynetwork.com/