Northern Star International
Broadcasters AS
PO Box 100
N5331 RONG
NORWAY
Email: 1000@northernstar.no
PRESS RELEASES
=================================
Dated 31st of December,
2008 For Immediate release
Open future for
Northern Star International Broadcasters AS.
=================================
On its General Meeting
December 8th, in Bergen, Norway, the shareholders of Northern Star
International Broadcasters AS (66,48 % of the issued shares represented) voted
to be open for different future scenarios for Northern Star International
Broadcasters AS, the company still holding a provisional license for the AM
frequency Longwave 216 kHz, power 1.2 Million Watts, offered by Norways Mass
Media Authority.
The founder and chairman Svenn
Martinsen comments in the form of this editorial:
Early in 2008 our
company invited its shareholders to an internal debate as to the future of our
radio project. On the background of the received inputs the board in the fall
has attempted to formulate a strategy for the way forward. This was voted over
in the recent GM.
For the public, wed
like to offer the following honest evaluation as to where we stand as of
January 1st, 2009:
Northern
Star-No available funding?
Northern Star
International Broadcasters AS was established on the last day of 1999 to build
a commercial, international radio station on AM 216 kHz longwave, the project
having been worked on since 1994. The idea came from
partly the Mexican border-blasters like XERF as well as North Sea and Irish
Pirates, but also an interested party in Norwegian Telecoms bureaucracy had
independently thought of a super-power voice from Norway.
In 2000, our company
commissioned a Business Plan for this project, and at the end of that year, we
had contact with 3 major USA investor groups, and one Irish, one saying they
were very interested another one wanting to put his writer in charge of the
radio station! By the end of 2008, we also have had serious contact with 2 UK,
and 1 Norwegian group.
If we leave out the
armchair critics, it must be said that generally the project has received a
good reception, something also proved by the large number of hits to this
website. But in spite of many conversations, exchanges and meetings with
investors(many of them good, and very friendly people) at this stage no
decisive interest has been noted. Whatever their reasons, we respect them.
We feel
it is a bit strange though to observe that evidently large amounts of media
resources are put into everything from more and more in our opinion silly TV
reality shows, over soap bubbles, to channels of doubtful value, and even
quite disturbing content on satellite/cable TV.
A rare
picture of Texan Gordon McLendons pirate radio ship Bon Jour from early 1961
taken in the Chalk Harbour of bo, Finland when it was getting ready to serve
as commercial radio station Radio Nord off Stockholm, Sweden on 602 kHz. In
the original 40 metres mast on the vessel making adjustments is engineer John
Mullaney of the US Navy in Washington, D.C. Three years after the radio ship
was known as Mi Amigo and broadcast as Radio Atlanta and Caroline South off the
Essex coast. It had its final spell in broadcasting from 1972-1980 when it sank
in a storm in the Thames Estuary. Picture: Radio Nord kommer tillbaka by Jack
S.Kotschack. Unknown photographer.
We feel the question must
be asked: Why is there seemingly no available money for a family values
project like ours? And are there Radio Nord or Radio London type
entrepeneurs in our times?
Maybe one reason might
be that some of the knowledge of AM broadcasting propagation, and subsequently
the great coverage possibilities in using these frequencies has been lost?
One investor we were in
touch with had a technical consultant who thought that Radio Monte Carlo would
be stronger in Scotland than our station!Look here for our statement on coverage!
If you are interested
in this subject, please take a look here, and at the
never-before published coverage maps at the end of this press release!
Cable from Bill Vick, Managing
Director of Radio England/Britain Radio in June, 1966 to ad reps telling of the
newly opened twin stations broadcasting from off the Frinton, Essex Coast 1966
describing the coverage of the two 50,000 watts Continental transmitters from
Helsinki to Hounslow, Donegal to Dungeness, Oldham to Orkneys and
Birmingham to Bremen. Derek Burroughs archive.
Talking about armchair
critics(above), some would-be expert voices HAVE said Nobody listens to AM
in Europe. Now, that is NOT accurate. It is absolutely correct that AM
listening has been on the decline. But what are the reasons for this? It seems
to us this may reflect the lack of good programming in the AM bands.
(You
might enjoy this
recording of a great, but shortlived contribution from the 60s, with star
dj Ron OQuinn of Swinging Radio England hosting a mid-morning show on 1322 kHz
in September, 1966. The promo voice is that of legendary Miami broadcaster,
Dick Starr.)
It
should be mentioned, though, that there are independents with great talent in
Europe, such as Sietse Brouwers Radio Seagull, Cara Medias(Dublin) Hot
Country 549, Radios Star Country and North, and the ex-ABC guys Zenith Classic
Rock of Waterford, also in Ireland. And Sweden and Finland has seen interesting
projects by enthusiasts, such as Radio Dellen and the present Scandinavian
Weekend Radio.
In
Norway the inferior sound quality the NRK use on, say, 675 kHz(by-the way, a
former Decca station!), only 4 kHz bandwidth, with the European market place
up at 7 kHz, has not created any goodwill for AM transmissions. Take a listen
to this recording from a
month ago and compare it to this great daytime sound from WCBS
New York, NY 50 kW on 880 kHz recorded early 2008 on a Sony Ultralight
receiver in the Bahamas!The quality is better, isnt it? It is worth noting
that both stations are heard over salt-water paths far beyond their normal
coverage areas, hence the interfering signals!
Picture:
A reminder of the heyday of AM Radio! From Room 605 in the London Hilton on
May, 12th, 2006 during the Radio England/Britain Radio Reunion
Still Swinging. From L-r: Grey Pierson, son of the late Don Pierson(founder
of Radios London, England, and sister stations) Rick Crandall(broadcast as
Rick Randall on radio stations like Swinging Radio England and WLCY
St.Petersburg, FL), the founder of Northern Star Int'l Broadcasters(also a
radio historian), and then Frank Laseter of Charlottes great country station
WSOC-FM 103.7. He broadcast as Larry Dean on radio stations like WPTR Albany,
NY, Swinging Radio England and WFUN Miami, FL. Photo: Jon Myer of The
Pirate Hall of Fame, used with permission.
One factor seems
certain: Prospective investors have looked at what-at
this stage anyway-seems to be the failures of Delta 171 in Holland, Music Mann
279 on the Isle of Man, not forgetting the Dutch/British Big L, 1395 kHz that
left the air recently.
In addition, in the
recent words of a leading investor and commentator: A deep recession is now
inevitable and the possibility of a depression cannot be ruled out.(George
Soros, November, 2008)
We have followed AM Stereo,
and Digital AM since the mid-90s and are not museum watchers. But even with
the prospects digital crystal-clear sound with DRM
and HD
on the good old AM the investors we have been in touch with have not wanted
to invest, as the Norwegian authorities advertised our frequency with no
available transmitting site, the former NRK site outside of Oslo(LKO)using it
having been blown up already in 1995. In addition, many transmission
sites(including two Decca stations)around Norway we have been looking at and
might have been possible to convert, have also been demolished. We maintain
these were totally irresponsible actions. Totally, over 30 sites have been
researched, including un-used oil/utility platforms in the North Sea, but none
found, except from a proposal from our side of co-siting with the LKS 1314 kHz
station at Kvitsoey Island. This was rejected. (see below).
We also had one process
with a possible leasing of the Irish LW frequency 252 kHz, formerly the home of
Atlantic 252, then the MW frequency 1296 Khz in Orfordness, and finally the
mentioned 1314 kHz. Our strategy with the latter had lasted since 2002, when we
finally in the summer of 2006 were offered the channel. The price asked was
much too high, however. I went to the NAB Radio Show in Dallas in the fall of
that year with the offer and, even if it was a good meeting with a certain
investor, they found the offer much too high. But for 5 months that year, we
had the channel on our hands! It has now been standing idle for almost 3 years,
except from brief transmissions of Radio Nederland Wereldomroep!
The magnificent 272 metres
tower used by Atlantic 252, near the village of Summerhill, Co.Meath,
photographed by svennam in July, 2003. Our trip to the
site included an encounter with a dog on the nearby farm!The site is now used
by RT Radio 1. A video tour of the site may be found here.
Photo: The LKB site outside
Bergen(Southern tower) when the two 150 metres masts were still up, might now
become available. svennam, 1993.
Daytime coverage map for lower
part of the MW band frequency, with 50,000 watts(60 dBmV/m=1 mV/m).This map was
drawn by our technical consultant Knut N.Stokke/our company for various
scenarios from the Decca stations Stavanger and Sotra, demolished 1998 and
1999. The LKB site mentioned above is not far from the northernmost
location(blue contour) of these.
Northern
Star- a future after all?
On the other side, 2008
has led to hope of an available site (NRKs former 890/1115 LKB site
in the Bergen area, which was even longwave once, with masts down). We dont
think a new LW station may be built there, though, but maybe a 50 kW Medium
Wave one with a modern aerial, also even Shortwave. We doubt this has the
potential to be a commercial project at this stage, though. Still, it might be
worthwhile, and any party that would like to support such a project in any way
is welcome to get in touch.
After almost 9 years
Northern Star Int'l Broadcasters AS still exist. A total close down of the
project seems prohibitive, after all the means, efforts and time used.
The majority of the
board primarily wishes to continue the project, with internet-based
narrowcasting coupled to broadcasting on an available platform with the
widest possible coverage. But it is also an unanimous opinion in the company
that a continuation demands a strategy that is possible to follow and that new
funds are available.
Peace Radio?
In that connection it
might be mentioned that one of the positive inputs weve had in the last year
has suggested we should go non-commercial and get on the Peace Wagon as it
once was said about Abe Nathans Voice of Peace radio
station(1973-1993). The correspondent also says: A super power radio
voice(from Norway) would do wonders for world peace and if its money stream was
not commercial it could survive. The same source points to Norways Peace
Role, ie the Oslo Peace Accords, the award of the Nobel Peace Prize and the Oslo Center.
Truth Radio?
Another well-meant
suggestion has been to also go non-commercial, and do something similar to what
the Voice of America once
did with its radio ship Courier officially called The Voice of America
Seaborne Radio Station, Dodecanese Islands from 1952. Its duty was to broadcast The Truth behind the
Iron Curtain and to fill the information gap that the communists had imposed
upon East Asia. A short-lived more contemporary paralell was Radio Brod,
operated by Droit de Parole 1993-1994 broadcasting from the Adriatic Sea. This
station served the Balkan countries with uncensored news during the Yugoslav
civil war.
A non-commercial
operation could in either case resemble that of PBS
in the USA.
The Norwegian Newspaper Vrt Land 140281. After Billy
Graham had a try in the 70s, then TWR wanted to use the Faroes station Akraberg
531 kHz for broadcasting the Gospel to the Nordic Countries. The then agent of
TWR in Norway, Norea Radio, contacted the later chairman of Northern Star for
advice. I said it was a great opportunity and recommended a service called
ARL/Atlantic Radio Lighthouse!
Northern Lights?
A third option is to
go to an all-Christian format, ie not only broadcast some Christian programming
as has been our aim all the time. This would fit well with the Church
background of the founder. But so far, we have been vary to do this.
First, this was not
what we set out to do, as we have felt a responsibility to create good
secular radio, with music,
entertainment, news, and sports.
(You
might enjoy three recordings, two pre-project in Norwegian, the first two
recorded off-air from when this writer was working as presenter at local
station Kystradioen(Kyst-fm, then 105,8/106,7/107,1 FM) in Bergen, and developed
the C-am format. ( June
and August
, 1992) The third is a demo from March,
2001 carrying our old slogan Cruisin 216, recorded in the studios of the NRK
in Kristiansand.)
Regarding the general
investors picture, weve had one well-meant and honest input who said: The
(suspicion) of a religious (agenda) attached to a broadcast company mightscare
away many large broadcast companies... (Fear)that there may be some future
financial conflict evolving fromChristian standards might make them less
interested.
Also, another input quite emphatically said: A project like yours
might succeed in the Southern States of the US, but not in Europe!
Our comment: Sad, if true, as in any scenario we would sail by the
words of the Apostle Paul: Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever
is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if
anything is excellent or praiseworthy—put it into practice.(From
Philippians 4,8-9)
But
it does also seem Christian investors are hard to find for a commercial
operation(different in the USA). Popular culture IS a challenge, but also
something Christians should venture into!
Non-commercial
Christian Media Projects are dependent on a large number of givers, and since
there already are a large number of serious operations in that vein, such as
Radio Vaticana, EWTN, TWR, HCJB, C4CB and the Norwegian P7, we do not want to
come in their way, at the same time wed like to see our vision become a
reality.
Texas Cowboys at the NAB
Radio Show at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, September 2006. L-r: Tom E Yingst,
former VP of Harris Broadcast Communications
Inc. of Mason, OH/Quincy, IL, Don Spragg of Continental Electronics Inc. of Dallas,TX
together with the founder of Northern Star. Photo: Tom E Yingst
Whatever will be the
outcome,we will not go quietly away as our former competitors Delta 171 and
Music Mann 279 seem to have done, but will wave the flag as we really think
we have a good project! It might be interesting by early 2009 to read once
again the now 7-year old essay
of the late NRK broadcaster and radio journalist Bernt Erfjord, with his
evaluation of the challenges of the three projects.
Our preferred aerial set-up on
216 kHz would be this model drawn by our technical consultant Knut N.Stokke. The
single mast would be 240 metres for this frequency. The name comes from the
French Longwave station Allouis, broadcasting a strong signal over Europe
easily available in car radios on 162 kHz. Knut N.Stokke/our company.
The recent GM means that our present company
now has chosen to go for an open future. This might lead to everything from the
selling of the company, or even, if it has not achieved a considerably
better financial position before January 1st, 2010 we may either
choose to close it down or, write off/null the present issued capital.
Hopefully, in either case we will manage to
preserve the vision, brand, webpage, etc., and use available broadcasting
platforms for a worthwhile service with that good sound!
The 227 metres broadcasting
tower of Blaw-Knox design
of Clear Channels WLW Cincinnati, OH(700 kHz, 50000 watts) located in Mason,
OH, photographed by Northern Stars founder after a visit to the site in May,
2001. The station had a brief spell in the 30s as a 500 kW super-power.
------
Finally some previously
unpublished daytime coverage maps follow from our paperwork through the years.
The b/w ones are our company and Knut N.Stokke(60 dBmV/m=1 mV/m, similar to
blue contour on the colour maps). The colour ones are our company and
Norkring, 3 different signal contours)
153 kHz, 1,200000 watts. Our
first preferred site was the Decca station called Stavanger actually at Hodne
Beach in Klepp Municipality, one of the areas with best conductivity in Norway.
Telecoms wanted 1314 kHz here before it was finally built at Kvitsoy Island
1982. This vacant frequency was given us by the PT in the spring of 1998. It
was taken away from us later and given to Norkring for a 100 kW Northern Norway
transmitter to cover the Arctic. The Decca station was demolished by the
Defence in spring 1998.
216 kHz, 1,200000 watts. Our
next preferred site was Lista, which is another one of the areas with best
conductivity in Norway. Three different locations were suggested by what is
today Forsvarsbygg. In 2001 theyd become real nice. We left the option however
after having met strong opposition by a representative of the county
administration who promised they would counter the project with all means!
Today, the area looks certain to house a large windmill farm, with many more
towers than the single one we wanted to put up on the edge of the North Sea.
216 kHz, 1,200000 watts. Our
next try was an unused platform at the Ekofisk oil field in the Southern North
Sea. Transmitting over salt water would give an immense signal, you might like
to compare to 60s and 70s radio ships and platforms, especially Radio
390(1965-1967) coming from Red Sands in the Thames Estuary, and RTV Noordzee
from the REM Island off the Dutch Coast(1964). The entrance fee by the oil
company was much too high, though, and we had reason to believe the platform
could not support a Longwave antenna. Such an installation would be great for a
Medium Wave antenna, though.
216 kHz, 300000 watts. What was
Crown Castle Communications plc offered us in 2000 to use the old BBC LF/MF
site at Daventry, Northants. Here everything was ready to start building of a
LF station on 216 kHz with 300 kW in order to protect co-channel RMC Roumoules
on the French Riviera. We left the option after the Radio Authority(now Ofcom)
made clear the frequency (if transferable)would have to be re-advertised in the
UK, and with the auction model there we estimated we would lose to much bigger
players.
216 kHz, 1,200000 watts. If it
became available, this utility site in Outer Sunnfjord would be a quite
interesting option.
=================================
Dated 27th of March,
2007 For Immediate release
Northern Star
International Broadcasters AS becomes DRM Supporter.
=================================
In connection
with the rising interest in DRM/Digital Radio Mondiale, Northern Star
International Broadcasters AS has chosen to become a DRM Supporter and has been
approved as such by the DRM Steering Board.
The DRM Supporter
label has been created by the Digital Radio Mondiale consortium as a new,
promotional option. Created to foster rapid DRM adoption and implementation
worldwide, the label is designed for companies and individuals interested in
any aspect of digital radio, from broadcasting to manufacturing, advertising
and sales. It offers broadcasters, publishers, content providers and others a
novel way to showcase their DRM support.
DRM Supporters
have the right to display a DRM Supporter logo, and are listed on DRMs Web
site[1].
DRM is the world's only,
open standard digital radio system for short-wave, AM/medium-wave and
long-wave. It has been endorsed by the ITU, IEC and ETSI. While DRM
currently covers the broadcasting bands below 30 MHz, the DRM consortium voted
in March 2005 to begin the process of extending the system to the
broadcasting bands up to 120 MHz. The design, development and testing phases
are expected to be completed by 2007-2009.
DRM is the only universal,
open standard digital AM radio system with near-FM quality sound available to
markets worldwide.
The quality of DRM audio is
excellent, and the improvement upon analogue AM is immediately noticeable. DRM
can be used for a range of audio content, including multi-lingual speech and
music.
Besides providing near-FM
quality audio, the DRM system has the capacity to integrate data and text. This
additional content can be displayed on DRM receivers to enhance the listening
experience.
Unlike digital systems that
require a new frequency allocation, DRM uses existing AM broadcast frequency
bands. The DRM signal is designed to fit in with the existing AM broadcast band
plan, based on signals of 9 kHz or 10kHz bandwidth. It has modes requiring as
little as 4.5kHz or 5kHz bandwidth, plus modes that can take advantage of wider
bandwidths, such as 18 or 20kHz.
Simulcast testing is
underway.
Many existing AM
transmitters can be easily modified to carry DRM signals.
DRM applications will include
fixed and portable radios, car receivers, software receivers and PDAs. Several
early prototype DRM receivers have been produced, including a software
receiver. The DRM system uses a type of transmission called COFDM (Coded
Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex). This means that all the data,
produced from the digitally encoded audio and associated data signals, is
shared out for transmission across a large number of closely spaced carriers.
All of these carriers are contained within the allotted transmission channel.
The DRM system is designed so that the number of carriers can be varied,
depending on factors such as the allotted channel bandwidth and degree of
robustness required.
The DRM system can use
three different types of audio coding, depending on broadcasters preferences. MPEG4
AAC audio coding, augmented by SBR bandwidth extension, is used as a
general-purpose audio coder and provides the highest quality. MPEG4 CELP speech coding
is used for high quality speech coding where there is no musical content. HVXC speech coding
can be used to provide a very low bit-rate speech coder.
The robustness of the DRM signal can be chosen to match different
propagation conditions[2].
For more information about
Digital Radio Mondiale and Digital Radio on the AM bands with sound examples,
please go to:
=================================
Dated 12th of December,
2006 For Immediate release
Northern Star project
to continue with new name after another setback.
=================================
After Norkring AS
announced in 2003 it was not able to house the AM 216 frequency at its
shortwave site in Sveio, Northern Star International Broadcasters AS decided to
follow a more flexible strategy:
The company decided to
keep the offer for 216, while concentrating on campaigning for another
Norwegian high power channel AM 1314, knowing this was likely to be given up by
the NRK in 2006. It was thought that starting transmissions on this channel,
besides of making revenue, would open up the complex challenges regarding
building the longwave station.
Subsequently, for 3 years
there has been a low-profile process with extensive lobbying work in
the bureaucracy and the leasing market to get this alternative frequency
and its present site.
At the end of July 2006 at
last the company was able to register a significant success as it secured an
exclusive offer for the combined 1314 package from Kvitsy 24/7.
This process has
temporarily stopped though as the investors(and the company
itself) thought the price asked by the site owner was much too high.
It has emerged that at the
same time the 1314 frequency permit(not a license) has been advertised in Oslo.
At the moment, it is not clear what this will mean for our process.
Northern Star
International Broadcasters AS at any rate has decided to broaden its flexible
strategy and will now with interested investors also consider transmitter sites
in other countries including other frequencies and wavebands than 216, 1314 and
Long-and Medium Wave.
Northern Star
International Broadcasters AS also has decided that this is a good occasion to
re-launch the project with a new name: Radio Norway International.
The proposed on-air
identity is new, but the Northern Star project is continuing.
=================================
Dated 3rd of September,
2003 For Immediate release
Norkring not able to
build Northern Star Longwave Station at Sveio.
=================================
In view of
general environmental considerations, and the decline of AM in Norway,
including the bleak prospects for the Sveio shortwave site, the transmitter
operator Norkring AS has announced it does not consider it possible to make
further plans for AM 216 from Sveio.
Commenting on
the situation, the chairman of Northern Star International Broadcasters AS says
this means the 2003 airdate has become impossible. However, the radio project
will continue as Norkring is prepared to operate a longwave service from a
different location if one can be found.
Good projects
take time, said Mr.Martinsen, pointing to the fact that in its application
document in 2000 Northern Star listed over 30 site possibilities it had
researched. He also added: Nobody must underestimate the enormous challenge
facing us in getting such a large station on air. And realistic as we are, we
know we may fail.
But I can
guarantee that we will not give up, and turn every stone to find a solution,
even if this country is not the easiest environment to work in for an AM
project like ours, with already several useable sites destroyed by the
authorities. This is strange taking into what lies ahead on the AM, especially
the DRM side, said Martinsen, concluding: A good project is worth fighting
for.
=================================
Dated 3rd of June, 2002
For Immediate release
Northern Star signs
Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with Norkring
=================================
Northern Star International
Broadcasters AS, the holder of a provisional high-power license for a
commercial international AM radio station based in Norway is happy to announce
the co-signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Norkring AS, the
transmission provider of NRK, TV2, P4, Radio 2 Digital, and several local radio
and TV stations. Norkring AS is part of the large telecommunication company
Telenor ASA.
The MoU starts a common
process where Norkring AS, on behalf of Northern Star is to investigate the
possibility of co-siting of the planned service(working title "Cruisin'
216) with an existing AM radio facility owned by Norkring AS, already in use by NRK.
Norkring AS is to build,
own and operate the new site, which will be of traditional design. A projected
coverage map for the service will be published on this web site as soon as
possible.
When its service goes on
air, Northern Star International Broadcasters AS, under the current license
will lease 100% of the capacity.
Svenn Martinsen, the
founder and CEO/Chairman of Northern Star welcomes the agreement on behalf of
the Bergen based radio company:
"We are happy to see
a real possibility of a definite solution of the important question of the
siting of our transmitter and large radio antenna, and are excited by
Norkring's interest. They already run AM broadcasting in a very professional
way in this country for the NRK from other sites, including Ingy, 153 kHz and
Kvitsy, 1314 kHz.
We worked hard for the use
of two former Decca sites from 1994-1999, one at Jrens Reef and one at Sotra
Island. Many agreed with us that this was a most sensible move. But we were met
with a very negative attitude by the authority in question. We also presented
over 30 other options for a site in our application document in December 2000.
These included both marine and land sites. Of course the best possible site for
large coverage is vital for the full financing of the project. With the MoU
with Norkring AS, we are more confident for the success of the project."
Northern Star International
Broadcasters AS is owned by 24 shareholders in Norway and the UK and plans a
music-driven service in English for mature radio listeners on AM 216 kHz.
===============================
Dated 9th of March,
2002 For Immediate release
Northern Star
International Broadcasters AS:
The interference
scenario
=================================
In the press some mention
has recently been given to presumed nighttime interference from RMC Info, earlier
Radio Monte Carlo for our planned service on 216 kHz.
Regarding the problem of
nighttime interference, this is a problem found in all Europe and has its roots
in the Geneva Plan, implemented Nov.23rd, 1978, and is also due to the great
number of transmitters in our part of the world, many of them high-powered, in
a relatively small area.
Anyone who wants to run an
AM station in Europe will encounter this problem. And as is well known, it is
already very evident even with some existing UK domestic services.
In Norway, the following
protection ratio figures were recognized when planning the 4 high-power
channels of 155(153), 218(216), 630, and 1314 kHz for the 1974/1975 Geneva
frequency conference, each 1200 kW.
On the official 1977
coverage maps the boundary value used was better than 27dB, in fact the basic
values used were 30dB for Medium Wave and 33dB for Long Wave.
Let us refer to theory we
have learned during our march forward:
At 27dB, there will be
good reception of both speech and music.
At 20-27 dB, still
relatively good reception, interference may be noticeable.
At 10-20 dB, speech
transmission may still be acceptable.
We think people will
listen to a signal with a signal to interference value down to 10 dB if the
program is interesting enough.
At 5 dB speech
transmission may be possible, but the interference will be tiresome.
On our website, there are
some calculations by our Norwegian consultant of how our service will do vs. R.
Monte Carlo.---
In spite of the European
interference problem AM radio does thrive with the right format. And now the
sensational Digital AM is coming.
Please look up the Digital
AM/DRM link also to the left of our webpages and listen yourself to FM quality
over 1000-1500 kms.
Most radio listeners agree
that AM radio is interesting, no exciting! So do we, with great experience in
listening in that field.
But in the coming years it
will be much more professionally interesting, and exciting than in recent
years. AM radio licenses with very high power are very valuable already indeed,
and will in the future have even greater value.
=================================
Dated 10th of December,
2001 For Immediate release
Northern Star
International
Broadcasters AS presenting
Cruisin216
=================================
The long battle for a
commercial super power radio station broadcasting from Norway to Europe has
reached an important target as Northern Star International Broadcasters AS last
December formally submitted its proposals to the Norwegian Mass Media Authority
to operate a radio station with 1 200 000 watts on 216 kHz long wave, with many
positive benefits for Norway.
Only one competitor
applied, who later withdrew, after there had been numerous rumours of several
applicants for the valuable license.
After meetings with the
authorities in the spring of 2001, the licensing authority stated they planned
giving the company a license to broadcast on 216, subject to presentation of a
couple of documents.
Among our plans at
Northern Star are a studio and office centre in Bergen for the station's 15+
staff. The station, which has the working title of Cruisin' 216 will be aimed
at adults aged 35 to 75, broadcast in English and hope to employ several well
known radio names as presenters on the station, which should launch in 2003.---
"It has been a
long battle," said Svenn, who has spent the last 7+ years not only caring for his Ministry, but then work
additional hours, nights and holidays preparing various documents, as well as lobbying
at the Dept of Culture, Stortinget(Parliament),
Post&Teletilsynet(Telecoms), various Defence authorities and travelling to
business partners in countries such as the UK, Netherlands and the USA.
"There was both
goodwill and opposition to the freeing of the Norwegian AM frequency, not to
mention the battle for the Decca stations, Svenn AM says.
But some very
influential people high up saw what enormous knowledge the project and company
had gained since the 70s, and besides liking the project, they also understood
the vast potential of the super-power channels Norway was allocated in Geneva
1974/1975. They also realized that one of these channels could form a powerful
international voice for Norway. Not to mention the extremely interesting possibilities
in Digital AM.
NSIBC AS was formed in
1999 to lobby the Norwegian Government to drop its objections to free the
frequency, after the project, previously known as C-am/Radio Stella Maris,
already had applied to the Dept of Culture in 1997.
The company propose
playing a personality driven popular music format, coupled to news, weather,
sports and block Christian programming, even if the final format will be
decided nearer to on-air date, due to market considerations.
We believe the 216
Long Wave signal will reach as far as the UK, Ireland, the Benelux contries,
much of Scandinavia and onto the Baltic states on one end and Faroes and
Iceland on the other, but consider to boost reception still further by
broadcasting on satellite and short wave to other parts of the world.
"It's very
important that the station be seriously 'international' and not just a station
broadcasting to Scandinavia."
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rights reserved: Northern Star International Broadcasters AS2001-2007
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