The SWL News Report: A Big Name Returns to SW | MW in Spain | BBC Cancels Popular Music Programmes

Welcome to another month of shortwave and radio news, DX updates, news about new stations, and listener loggings from around the world. This is episode 31 of the SWL News Report.

This month’s episode has some big developments — including one of the biggest pieces of shortwave news in a while: the return of Radyo Pilipinas to shortwave broadcasting, effective 1 December 2025.

This report cannot happen without the support of listeners. A huge thank-you to Liam in Colorado for sending in an excellent Radio Thailand audio clip, many thanks to Lew in Scotland for the BBC Scotland tip, and thank you to this month’s DX reporters: Manuel in Mexico, Goranko in Serbia, and Garech in Ireland.

This podcast truly is becoming a gathering place for SWLs from all around the world!

📌 Episode Highlights

Here’s what you’ll hear in this edition:

🌍 Shortwave News

Radyo Pilipinas returns to shortwave on 1 December 2025 after years off the air. We look at what this means for overseas Filipinos and regional listeners.
Global Talk America launches on shortwave, airing from Ascension Island and Woofferton.
Radio Dabanga continues operating from Amsterdam, remaining a vital lifeline for news amid the conflict in Sudan.

📡 Radio News

RFE/RL shuts down its Hungarian-language service, ending its digital presence there.
Most AM/FM listening still happens on traditional radios, according to new data from Edison Research.
Spain’s RNE to close more MW (AM) transmitters, continuing Europe’s long-term exit from mediumwave.
BBC Radio Scotland cancels four long-running late-night specialist music programmes, affecting Scotland’s local music communities (thanks to Lew in Scotland for the tip).

📻 Listener DX Reports

This month’s reception reports come from:
Goranko in Serbia, with one of the first catches of Global Talk America
Manuel in Mexico, with some interesting WEFAX and NAVTEX catches
Garech in Ireland, with many catches of European SW stations

📊 HF Propagation Forecast

We break down expected HF band conditions for December — including solar activity and what listeners can expect on the higher frequencies as we approach the holiday season.

Full forecast links are provided below.

🌐 Current HF Conditions
https://hamradiofornontechies.com/cur...

🌐 Australian Space Weather HF Forecast
https://www.sws.bom.gov.au/HF_Systems...

🌐 Global HF Conditions Map
https://www.sws.bom.gov.au/HF_Systems...

🔗 Other Useful Links

🎙️ Podcast RSS Feed
https://anchor.fm/s/f9ac4be0/podcast/rss

ℹ️ What are SINPO Codes?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SINPO_code

ℹ️ In-depth article about Radio Dabanga
https://fanack.com/opinion/features-i...

📢 If you enjoy shortwave radio…
Please like, subscribe, and share the podcast. The more people join in, the more reception reports, recordings, and news I can bring into the show. This community keeps shortwave alive — one listener at a time.

Picture credits
WEFAX and NAVTEX: Manuel in Monterrey, Mexico
Antenna field in thumbnail: Facebook and ChatGPT

00:00 The SWL News Report
02:15 Radyo Pilipinas back on shortwave
04:13 New SW station from the USA
06:01 Radio Dabanga: A Lifeline to Sudan
07:52 RFE/RL ends Hungarian Service
08:41 MW and FM listening in the USA
09:10 The End of RNE on MW
10:46 BBC cancels popular music programmes
11:50 Serbian Reception Report from Goranko
18:26 Irish Reception Report from Garech
25:57 Mexican Reception Report from Manuel
30:07 HF Propagation Outlook

#shortwave
#dxing
#swl
#shortwaveradio
#radiohobby
#radyoPilipinas
#GlobalTalkAmerica
#HausaBroadcasting
#HFpropagation
#AMradio
#MWradio
#RadioNews
#RadioDabanga
#BBCScotland
#SWLcommunity
#DXcommunity