[BC] reaching an audience

[robertm]

I do not pretend to have the numbers but could it be the lack of shortwave receivers?  There were a handful MW and LW facilities scattered around the world but they were targeted at now very safely friendly countries. RFE in Germany had a 150 KW MW transmitter for Poland. VOA had a high power MW and a million watt LW transmitter near Munich. Since the Russians abandoned LW and LW receiver penetration is dropping it made little sense to replace a 1950 vintage megawatt transmitter.

Most US based VOA facilities  did not directly reach listeners but fed relay stations closer to the target. The exception being some Greenville and Bethany facilities broadcasting to the Carribean and parts of South America which were not that high of a priority during the Cold War.  With the advent of satellite feeds the relay concept was no longer necessary. 

I often had a hard time bringing in the 500KW Greenville facilities in Europe with a military grade antenna and an R390. Imagine how that works with the average consumer radio. 

The best way to reach an audience is to be where the ears really are

> On Jul 25, 2014, at 11:42 AM, Donald Chester <k4kyv at hotmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Why else would the BBG have recommended phasing out most of the VOA and RL short-wave 
> transmitting facilities, both in the US and overseas?