The Voice of America will resume its radio broadcasts to the Central Asian nation of Uzbekistan on June 12. VOA had ceased broadcasting on radio to Uzbekistan last year in response to research that showed Uzbeks watch television in significant numbers. VOA has been broadcasting television programming to Uzbekistan since December 2003.
“Because of the recent events in Uzbekistan and the Uzbek government’s tightening of controls on foreign television broadcasts, we have decided to resume our radio broadcasts,” said VOA Director David Jackson. “The Uzbek people deserve to have access to uncensored news and information about what’s happening in their own country, their region, and the world. In addition, our Uzbek language web site will continue to be updated with the latest news and information.”
VOA’s Uzbek-language radio broadcasts will consist of a daily (seven days a week), 30-minute program, airing from 15:00-15:30 UTC (20:00 -20:30 local time) on short wave. VOA hopes to offer the new Uzbek-language radio broadcasts on medium wave and FM in the future.
VOA’s coverage will focus on the news of the world, of Uzbekistan and Central Asia, and information about U.S. policy and opinion. The coverage will also include U.S. and world press reviews on Uzbekistan, as well as interviews with regional and international experts on Uzbekistan and the region.