MANDARIN PRESCRIPTION REVIEW
BBC transmissions in Mandarin prior to 1987 were broadcast by High Frequency transmissions via the BBC Far Eastern Relay Station located at Kranji in Singapore. Unfortunately as Peking is a very long way from Kranji, signals in the north of China were weak and uncompetitive compared to VOA transmissions from the Philippines.
However, in September 1987, the BBC East Asia Relay Station opened in Hong Kong providing very strong, clear signals in north China.
Currently, a majority of Mandarin transmissions are via facilities at both of these BBC relay stations. The two local evening transmissions are supplemented by a single frequency via Masirah intended to serve the Mandarin speakers in South East Asia.
In 1982, as part of the 1981-1991
1981-1991 audibility programme, the poor quality, unreliable HF programme feeds to Kranji from the UK were replaced with high quality feeds via the Indian Ocean Intelsat satellite. This led to a significant improvement in audibility
in audibility of the Mandarin
of the Mandarin transmissions particularly in southern China. However, when the HF feeds were closed, particularly those within and adjacent to the international HF broadcast bands, listeners across Europe and Asia who had become accustomed to listening on these frequencies, found they could no longer listen to the Mandarin transmissions.
The East Asia Relay Station has used a single high quality satellite programme feed since the station opened.
A small improvement in audibility in southern China was achieved more recently when an extra 250kW transmitter, together with some new antennas, were installed at Kranji. The resulting increase in flexibility in scheduling the transmission facilities has led to a small increase in the strength of one or two frequencies.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain audibility of the BBC transmissions due to the increase in congestion in the International HF Broadcasting bands. Many other broadcasters have improved their transmission facilities to this part of the world. In particular the private US Broadcasters have increased dramatically the number of transmitters they use to broadcast to Asia. Other Broadcasters have recently negotiated exchanges on transmission facilities in China and Japan. The resulting increase in congestion is likely to continue as other Broadcasters such as Voice of America, Radio Canada, Radio France and Radio Netherlands, are planning to build new, high power transmission facilities in the Far East/South East Asia. All of these developments compete for a finite number of frequencies. The increase in both number and strength of signals will degrade the subjective audibility of BBC Transmissions.
Audibility of the Mandarin service from early June was reported to have degraded due to deliberate interference on some frequencies. At first these reports could not be confirmed as the interference was weak and sporadic. The deliberate interference, apparently from within China, is now reported to have been more consistant since the 30th June but appears not to have significantly degraded reception.
To remain competitive the BBC will need additional, high power HF transmission facilities in SE. Asia or the Far East. A new HF relay station in Thailand, for example, could provide strong competitive signals throughout China.
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