Apr
7

the beginning of the end

6 Comments

Ram_FM

 Exactly one year ago today, Israeli police raided the radio station RAM FM in Jerusalem. The raid signalled the beginning of the end, and the station eventually closed down in August. I had the privilege to work at the station for a few months just before it went off the air. It was a great project, and it ended due to gross mismanagement of the station, and most probably political pressure. We’ll never know.

All I know is, that every one of us who worked there wishes someone, somewhere would pick up the gauntlet…

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1207486215081&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1218104259920

PALESTINIANS-ISRAEL/RADIO

A policeman and staff during the raid, April 7 2008

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Posted in Half & Half
6 Comments Posted by Ami Kaufman

6 Responses to "the beginning of the end"

  • Mo-ha-med says:
    May 4, 2009 at 1:32 am

    I was in Ramallah that day. After Ram Fm was off, we were like – damn. So what are we going to listen to now??

  • Tim says:
    May 6, 2009 at 3:06 pm

    Almost every Anglo I know (and that’s quite a few) either listened to, or was at least aware of RAM’s existence. I can’t believe that they didn’t manage to find some advertising to at least contribute to their own existence.

    It left a real gap. I hope that one day we’ll see another English-language station here.

  • shmookty says:
    May 6, 2009 at 3:11 pm

    I know of some others, myself included, who are thinking about just how to start another station here. As for now, I’m clueless.
    Thanx for the comment Tim, my wife and I are huge fans of the show :)

  • Tim says:
    May 9, 2009 at 9:41 pm

    Thanks, that’s two people at least :)

    I also know some people who are thinking about how to start another station here – maybe they’re the same people that you know.

    Personally, I don’t see digital radio taking off here (AFAIK nobody responded the tender to build the infrastructure). The market is relatively small, and I suspect noone will take the risk in the current climate. Internet radio is very nice, and growing – but you still can’t jump in your car and listen to it, yet. AM is just about dead. So that leaves us with FM. RAM had a fantastic opportunity with the license from the PA. Following their demise, I suspect that avenue is now closed – or at least a good deal more difficult.

    So, I dunno – would love to hear about any other feasible way of doing it.

  • Hours of Happiness – Musings of a Levantine-Anglo says:
    May 17, 2010 at 1:29 pm

    [...] Palestinians and Israelis. There was an office in Ramallah and one in Jerusalem. I’ve written here before about the station and its unfortunate demise. But let’s stick to the happy events, [...]

  • Pamela Olson says:
    April 23, 2011 at 4:12 am

    I adored RAM FM. My favorite thing to do was drink a Taybeh beer at Pronto in Ramallah while listening to RAM FM and reading a good novel or philosophy book. Good times. Meshtaqlak. (I miss you [RAM FM])

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