Radio Giovanni Paolo II from Italy broadcasting on 1620 kHz

A new station identifying as Radio Giovanni Paolo II has been heard in Italy on 1620 kHz mediumwave. According to Italian DXer Giampiero Bernardini, the station seems to be transmitting 24 hours a day. Radio Giovanni Paolo II broadcasts the speeches of the Pope and other Catholic programming, but is not linked to the Catholic church. The private station is headed by Eliseo Mischi, and according to him, the station is licensed, inheriting the license previously used by Radio International from Verona on 1620 kHz. Radio Giovanni Paolo II simulcasts on 94.9 MHz on the FM band. Italian DXer Saverio De Cian was the first to report hearing the station on December 17. Meanwhile, another Italian DXer Fabio Tagetti has reported on Radiorama/AIR that he heard a test transmission from Radio Happy Days, Sandrà di Castelnuovo del Garda on 1602 kHz, starting December 16. Radio Happy Days broadcasts on FM 91.5 and 94.7 MHz and is also owned by Eliseo Mischi, suggesting that the same transmitter may have been used by both stations. Reception reports can be sent by email or by mail to Radio Giovanni Paolo II, c/o Teatro Martinelli, Via San Martino 4, 37014 Sandrà di Castelnuovo del Garda (VR), Italy.
(DXing.info, December 19, 2005, updated on December 20)

Bilingual German-French talkradio launched on 1179 kHz

Saarländischer Rundfunk in Germany and Radio France International (RFI) have jointly launched Antenne Saar on 1179 kHz mediumwave. SWR cont.ra and ARD/ZDF are also involved in the project. The news-talk channel, which belongs to German public broadcaster Saarländischer Rundfunk, began transmissions on December 12. Current broadcast schedule is 0700-1700 UTC on 1179 kHz and 24 hours a day as a digital DAB channel. A 10-minute-long French-language newscast can be heard at 30 minutes past each hour. Also, RFI produces a half-hour show aired at midday. The transmitter on 1179 kHz is located in Saarbrücken and has a power of 10 kW. Antenne Saar can be contacted by writing to Saarländischer Rundfunk 'antenne saar', Funkhaus Halberg, 66100 Saarbrücken, Germany, or by email.
(DXing.info, December 16, 2005)

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