| Washington, DC, Dec. 22, 2000 - Newly released research among the people
of Tibet demonstrates that the Voice of America's Tibetan Language Service
is the most widely listened to radio station in Tibet, drawing more listeners
than any other international station and exceeding the audience of stations
sponsored and sanctioned by the Chinese government.
A total of 45.2% of 582 adult exiles or travelers from Tibet in Dharamsala
(India), Kathmandu (Nepal) and Bodhgaya (India) reported listening to VOA
Tibetan at least once a week. So comprehensive is VOA Tibetan's impact
that the survey could find only three of 582 listeners who were not VOA
regulars.
In the survey, Tibetan People's Radio placed second with 34.7%, Qinghai
People's Radio was third with 28.4%, another U.S. government-funded station,
Radio Free Asia, was fourth with 22%, All India Radio was fifth with 21%
and the Central People's Radio placed sixth at 13.9%.
Because the research could not be conducted inside the Tibet Autonomous
Region of China, it cannot be read as representative of the entire Tibetan
population. However, it is the first clear indication that news and information
about the world and the Tibetan people is reaching Tibet, despite Chinese
government efforts to jam the signal. The research was commissioned by
the International Broadcasting Bureau of the U.S. Government and was conducted
in late 1999 and early 2000.
"Since its establishment in 1991, VOA's Tibetan Language Service has
been a lifeline to the people of Tibet," said Sanford J. Ungar, Director
of VOA. "We now broadcast 4 hours a day, giving the people of that closed
society a window on world news, regional events, and news of the Tibetan
government in exile. VOA also provides Tibetans with news of American culture
and institutions."
Among all those interviewed who said they listened to any Tibetan or
Chinese-language service of any major western broadcasters in the last
year, 98.6% said they listened to VOA. Of these international radio listeners,
49.1% listened exclusively to VOA, while 46.1% listened to both VOA and
RFA. Listeners to VOA, RFA, and BBC accounted for an additional 3.3%.
In focus group research commissioned by the International Broadcasting
Bureau, listeners said that they turn to international radio for news and
information about Tibet, the Dalai Lama, his government in exile, and news
of support for the Tibetan people from other government and non-government
entities.
The Voice of America broadcasts more
than 900 hours per week in English and 52 other languages to an estimated
91 million people per week. It is located in Washington, DC, and has satellite,
AM and short wave transmitters around the world and a network of affiliate
stations. |
