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=== Races | Technology | Buildings & Organizations ===

====== WEBER BROADCASTING SERVICES ======

===== Overview =====

  * **Founding Year:** 2625
  * **Founder:** [[Klaus Weber|Klaus Weber]], visionary communication engineer and founder of the [[weber_communication_company|Weber Communication Company (WCC)]]
  * **Headquarters:** [[headquarters_of_the_weber_communication_company_and_broadcasting_services|Headquarters of the Weber Communication Company and Broadcasting Services]], [[New Kourou|New Kourou]] (Public Services Ring)
  * **Parent Organization:** Weber Communication Company (WCC)

Weber Broadcasting Services (WBS) served as the cultural and informational heartbeat of [[the_humans|Exohuman]] society during the [[beta_age|Beta Age]], transmitting news, music, literature, and discussions to settlements across [[the_planet_voi_700_d|VOI 700 D]]. Operating under the umbrella of the Weber Communication Company, WBS used the [[shortwave_radio_network_of_the_exohumans|Shortwave Radio Network]] to provide settlers with real-time news updates and cultural programming.

Located in the same building as WCC within the Public Services Ring of New Kourou, Weber Broadcasting Services was integral to shaping Exohuman culture, fostering a sense of connection between settlements, and promoting resilience during difficult times.

===== History =====

==== The Early Years (2625–2626) ====

The launch of Weber Broadcasting Services coincided with the construction of the shortwave communication network. Klaus Weber envisioned WBS as more than just a means of communication — he saw it as a tool to unite settlers and preserve their cultural identity in the new world.

By late 2626, with the establishment of the main relay stations and successful deployment of the Shortwave Communication Devices (SWRWC), WBS began daily broadcasts to the settlements of New Kourou, [[Hope|Hope]], [[Morningstar|Morningstar]], and [[Firetown|Firetown]]. Each evening from 8 PM to midnight, settlers could tune in for news, entertainment, and discussions about life on the new planet, fostering a shared experience across distant communities.

==== Studio-Master Partnership (2627 – 2630) ====

In early 2628, WBS struck an exclusive deal with the [[new_kourou_shellac_corporation_nksc|New Kourou Shellac Corporation (NKSC)]]: every Friday live-music broadcast was cut in parallel onto a numbered “Studio Master” [[shellac_records|fungus-shellac disk]]. Couriers rushed these pressings — together with NKSC’s hand-cranked tabletop players — to taverns across all settlements. Owning “this week’s groove” became a status symbol and forged a shared playlist between settlements.

==== Role During the Great War (2629–2631) ====

During the [[Great War|Great War]], Weber Broadcasting Services pivoted from entertainment to war-time propaganda and emergency broadcasting. It became a vital resource for morale-building and coordination, transmitting real-time updates on the war effort, tactical advice, and government-mandated propaganda encouraging unity and resistance against external threats.

Although the war interrupted cultural programming, WBS continued to offer brief musical interludes and stories to boost civilian morale, maintaining a connection to the settlers' pre-war lives.

==== Post-War Transition and Federalization (2631–Present) ====

Following the [[Peace Treaty|Peace Treaty]] and the establishment of [[Communardism|Communardism]], Weber Broadcasting Services was absorbed into the [[Federal News Agency |Federal News Agency]] (FNA) in 2631. Private broadcasting was permanently banned, and WBS’s equipment and infrastructure were repurposed for government-controlled news distribution.

Despite these changes, many settlers fondly remember the days of Weber Broadcasting Services, and archived recordings are still treasured by collectors as cultural relics of the Beta Age. The former WBS building in New Kourou now serves as the headquarters of the Federal News Agency, symbolizing the shift from independent cultural expression to centralized information control.

===== Programming =====

Weber Broadcasting Services offered a variety of programs aimed at informing, entertaining, and connecting settlers. The standard programming schedule ran from 8 PM to midnight, featuring:

  * **News Broadcast (Once per Evening):** A comprehensive report covering events from all Exohuman settlements, weather updates, resource allocations, and policy changes.
  * **Live Music (One Musician per Evening):** Local musicians performed live on air, offering everything from classical pieces to original compositions that reflected the settlers' new lives on VOI 700 D.
  * **Readings of Novels and Poems:** Professional readers and volunteers took turns narrating classic literature, settler-authored novels, and poetry, providing settlers with an escape from their daily struggles.
  * **Talk Shows on Politics and Life on the New Planet:** Discussions focused on the challenges and triumphs of building a new society, with guest appearances by local leaders, scientists, and settlers.
  * **Call-In Shows:** Listeners could participate by calling in via their Shortwave Communication Devices (SWRWC) to ask questions, share experiences, or engage in discussions with the hosts. This interactive format became a favorite among settlers, giving them a voice in the broader community.

===== Infrastructure and Technology =====

Weber Broadcasting Services utilized the same shortwave communication network managed by Weber Communication Company. The headquarters housed multiple studios equipped with soundproofing, basic recording equipment, and direct connections to the shortwave transmitters located in the New Kourou Relay Station.

The entire operation was powered by microbial fuel cells and supplemented with solar panels, ensuring consistent broadcast quality despite the harsh environmental conditions of VOI 700 D.

===== Legacy and Impact =====

  * **Cultural Preservation:** WBS helped preserve Exohuman identity by promoting music, literature, and open discussion. Many settlers credit WBS with maintaining their morale and sense of purpose during the challenging early years.
  * **Symbol of Unity:** Nightly broadcasts became a ritual for many families, offering a shared experience across distant settlements.
  * **Transition to Centralized Control:** The absorption of WBS into the Federal News Agency marked the end of independent broadcasting, symbolizing the growing influence of centralized governance in the Gamma Age.

===== Tactical Advice for Dungeon Masters =====

==== Beta Age Missions ====

  * **Broadcast Hijacking:** Players could be tasked with hijacking a WBS broadcast to spread critical information or rally support for a cause.
  * **Protecting WBS Staff:** During the Great War, players may need to protect WBS staff and facilities from attacks by hostile forces seeking to disrupt morale.
  * **Call-In Mystery:** Players receive a cryptic message during a live call-in show, sparking an investigation into a hidden threat or forgotten piece of technology.

==== Gamma Age Missions ====

  * **Recovering Lost Recordings:** Players must locate archived WBS recordings that contain forgotten knowledge or encrypted secrets from the Beta Age.
  * **Infiltrating the Federal News Agency:** Players infiltrate the former WBS headquarters to uncover hidden records or broadcast a secret message to the settlements.

===== Related Pages and Further Information =====

  * [[free_state_of_settlers|Free State of Settlers]]
  * [[the_exohuman_communication_system_in_the_beta_age|Exohuman Communication System in the Beta Age]]
  * [[Klaus Weber|Klaus Weber]]
  * [[weber_communication_company|Weber Communication Company]]
  * [[headquarters_of_the_weber_communication_company_and_broadcasting_services|Headquarters of the Weber Communication Company and Broadcasting Services]]
  * [[shortwave_radio_network_of_the_exohumans|Shortwave Radio Network]]
  * [[short_wave_communications_device|Shortwave Communication Device (SWRWC)]]
  * [[new_kourou_shellac_corporation_nksc|New Kourou Shellac Corporation (NKSC)]]
  * [[federal_news_agency|Federal News Agency]] (Successor in the Gamma Age)