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RTÉ switchover will hit the vulnerable hardest  CONFUSION
over RTÉs controversial closure of their medium wave radio service
is already taking hold as long wave signals prove unreliable or non-existent
for some of Britain’s listeners.
Vulnerable members of the listening audience in England and Ireland, who
currently receive the broadcaster’s popular Radio 1 channel via
the MW (AM) dial, are expected to be worst affected by the March 24 shutdown
of the popular service.
Being forced to switch to the less stable LW (FM) reception may mean purchasing
new receivers.
And others could find themselves in areas where there is little or no
reception on the FM dial.
Retired Mary Lloyd is already perplexed and anxious as she struggles to
locate her ‘favourite programme and daily companion’ on the
FM tuner in preparation for the March switchover.
The 63-year-old widow, who lives in Ashford, Middlesex, told The Irish
Post: “I listen to RTÉ from 7am to midnight every day on
medium wave and have done for about three years.
“I have three radios in the house and I have been having problems
getting tuned into the LW service — one doesn’t work at all
and the other two pick up a weak signal during the day and nothing in
the evening.
“I wish RTÉ would just leave things as they are, the programme
is a little link home and a companion I would be just lost without.
“And I worry for the elderly who get the Sunday Mass on the radio
— if they can’t get reception either what will they do?”
Mary, who came to England in 1965, feels she is back home in Dromcollogher,
Co. Limerick, while the radio is on.
And she cherishes the link as ill-health means she can never return there
permanently.
She explained: “I can never move back as I suffer breathing problems
which could not take the damp winters, so this is really all I have —
I feel like I’m home when I’m listening.”
The issues surrounding the MW closure have also drawn criticism from The
Emigrant Advice Network (EAN) in Dublin who cite the elderly, who are
unlikely to use the RTÉ’s internet service as an alternative,
and emigrants in areas where long wave radio is insufficient as being
most affected by the switch.
They, backed by the Age Concern charity, are appealing to the broadcaster
to hold off the impending shutdown until it begins broadcasting in digital
— giving near FM quality across all of Ireland and most of Britain.
EAN director Noreen Bowden said: “This issue is particularly important
for our older emigrants who value RTÉs services as a powerful link
with home.”
An RTÉ spokesperson said: “Unfortunately Radio 1’s
LW 252 signal is prone to interference at night in the area south east
of London.
“For listeners in the south east some of the LW 252 interference
is caused by other radio stations crossing international boundaries; we
are currently pursuing this issue with specific broadcasters and hope
that this might improve the reception of LW 252 in the evening.
“However, if Mrs Lloyd and other listeners have access to Sky or
Virgin Media television, RTÉ Radio 1 is available at channel 0160
on Sky and channel 917 on Virgin Media.
“RTÉ Radio 1 is also available via the internet at www.rte.ie/radio.”
A meeting between the Oireachtas Committee on Communications and RTÉ
personnel regarding the issues is set to take place on March 4. |
