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Tues - Sept 14 -

IRAQI TALK RADIO -

A couple of readers have asked me about this topic because they'd like to listen in.

The most popular station in Baghdad for this format is reported to be Radio Dijla. It has a website, but I don't think it is streaming (yet). I heard what sounded like background music when I clicked through on it. I could be mistaken because I clicked at the wrong time of day or their website may still be under construction.

Here are some excerpted quotes about it:

... Stepping into most taxis in Baghdad, one can hear Radio Dijla playing, and the drivers are often keen to discuss the latest topic with their passengers...

Broadcasting in a 90-mile radius from a two-story Baghdad villa, the station features a mixture of music-request shows, radio plays starring prominent Iraqi actors, and religious and legal advice programs. But the centerpieces are the morning and afternoon call-in shows -- sometimes posing a specific question, but often opening the lines for a daily gripe session.

Iraq's first independent talk radio station, Radio Dijla (Tigris Radio) identifies itself as "Radio Dijla from Baghdad, the first independent Iraqi radio". Radio Dijla broadcasts on 89.5 MHz FM at 0800-0305 local time (0400-2305 gmt).

If you just want to practice listening to Arabic, I believe you can listen to the BBC in Arabic and RFE/RL as well.

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