To Be Where The Audience Is -- Report Of The Special Committee On The Future Of Shortwave Broadcasting

The Broadcasting Board of Governors released a report that found shortwave radio to be essential to listeners in target countries, but of marginal impact in most markets.

Research-based evidence of media trends suggests that the increased availability and affordability of television, mobile devices and Internet access has led to the declining use of shortwave around the world.

Still, the report finds that substantial audiences embrace shortwave in Nigeria, Burma, North Korea, Afghanistan, Somalia, Zimbabwe, Cuba and other target markets for the BBG. At the same time, the committee’s recommendations make clear that the BBG will need to continue to reduce or eliminate shortwave broadcasts where there is either minimal audience or that audience is not a US foreign policy priority.