VOA Launches Our World, A TV Magazine Show in Indonesian, Debut Set for Dec. 31

Additional Press Releases

Washington, Jan. 19, 2001 – In accordance with its second annual strategic analysis of all language services of U.S. Government-supported international broadcasting and to enhance broadcasting in key areas of the world, the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) today announced shifts of resources and broadcast hours of selected language services.

The Voice of America (VOA) will enhance broadcasts in Arabic, Indonesian, Hindi, Macedonian, and Spanish to the Americas.  Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) will expand Arabic and Farsi Internet sites and AM capability, step up recruitment of Russian affiliates, and expand the Romanian service to extend broadcasts to Moldova.

As a result of this reallocation of resources, the Board’s action will eliminate three services, reduce ten others, and enhance another six. The affected broadcasters include Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the Voice of America, where 36 staff positions will be eliminated. 

The International Broadcasting Act of 1994 requires the Broadcasting Board  “to review, evaluate, and determine, at least annually, after consultation with the Secretary of State, the addition or deletion of language services.”  Language service review and the setting of language priorities are key components of the BBG’s broad responsibilities as an independent federal entity since Oct. 1, 1999.

The measures announced today are another step in what the Board envisions as the alignment of strategic priorities with the allocation of U.S. civilian international broadcasting’s resources over several years. The measures also underscore the need to use broadcasting funds efficiently to provide accurate, objective news and information and to support emerging democracies, as well as to make creative and cost-effective use of the Internet and other new media to deliver programming.

The Board has decided to eliminate the Voice of America (VOA) services in Portuguese to Brazil, Thai, and Uzbek; and reduce VOA broadcasts in Bulgarian, Romanian, Slovak, Armenian, and Turkish.  However, RFE/RL will continue its Uzbek broadcasting service.

The Board-mandated reductions for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) represent a scaling back of shortwave broadcasts and a shift of resources into other broadcast media along with emphasis on marketing and advertising. 

Shortwave broadcasts in Armenian, Bulgarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Romanian, Russian, and Ukrainian will be curtailed, as allowed by expanded FM broadcasting, and daily broadcasts in Slovak will be shortened. 

In undertaking its second annual language service review, the BBG examined where the U.S. should broadcast and how well the broadcasters are doing their job. The Board evaluated the services using such criteria as audience size and awareness of the broadcasts in the target areas, media environment, political and economic freedom, programming quality, transmission effectiveness, cost, broadcast hours, and language overlap between the broadcasters.

Created by the International Broadcasting Act of 1994, the bi-partisan Broadcasting Board of Governors is responsible for policy and budgetary oversight of all U.S. Government-supported civilian overseas broadcasting, including the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio and Television Marti, WORLDNET Television, and Radio Free Asia. The Board is appointed by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, and the Secretary of State is an ex oficio voting member of the BBG. The current members, not including one vacancy, are Marc B. Nathanson, Chairman; Madeleine K. Albright, Secretary of State; Tom C. Korologos; Edward E. Kaufman; Alberto Mora; Cheryl Halpern; Norman J. Pattiz; and Robert M. Ledbetter, Jr.

As of Oct. 1, 1999, in accordance with the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998, the Broadcasting Board of Governors is also an independent federal entity with over 3,300 employees, encompassing all U.S. Government-supported broadcasting.

The Board is committed to assisting the affected employees with extensive job counseling and out-placement services.