Radio Romania- 90 years of existence
On November 1, Radio Romania celebrates 90 years since its first broadcast
Mihai Pelin, 01.11.2018, 13:09
On November 1, Radio Romania celebrates 90 years since a first broadcast was aired in Romania. Since then, the institution has constantly coped with the
challenges of a changing world.
A decade after WWI, when all the territories with a predominantly
Romanian speaking population that had been under the rule of neighbouring
multinational empires got under Bucharest’s authority, Romania started using
the most efficient means of communication of the time – Radio – which could
reach all corners of the newly united country.
On November 1, 1928, the Romanian Radio-Telephony Broadcasting Company
aired its first broadcast, Hello, this is Radio Bucharest being the first
words uttered on air by the first president of the institution, physicist Dragomir Hurmuzescu. Regarded from the very beginning as a means of
information, education and entertainment, the Romanian public radio has
practically broadcast programs uninterruptedly for 90 years. It had to permanently adjust its editorial
policy, sometimes paying a dear political price, but it has overcome the
challenges posed by radical changes of regime, which Romania has seen from
inter-war democracy to right wing dictatorships during WWII and from Communist
despotism to democracy, restored during the December 1989 Revolution.
Radio Romania addresses the whole society, all generations, catering for
all tastes, and along the years it has tried to preserve unaltered the image of
an unbiased national public radio. The channels with a national coverage
include Actualităţi, Cultural, Muzical and Antena
Satelor, that is News and Current Affairs, Culture, Music and the
Village Antenna, respectively, adding to which are two online channels for
children and youth. The Romanian public radio started broadcasting programs for
audiences abroad in the early 1930’s. Nowadays, Radio Romania International is
trying to familiarize foreign audience with current Romanian topical issues and
values, and to keep the Romanian Diaspora in touch with the mother-country, helping
them maintain the bond with Romania. Radio Romania International broadcasts
programmes in 11 foreign languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Hebrew,
Italian, Serbian, Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian) as well as in the Romanian
language and the Aromanian dialect.
The Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporation
is currently considered to be the most
credible and important media institution in the country, given the large number
of listeners who choose to listen to its programmes on a daily basis, the
campaigns it carries out and the extensive cultural projects that it develops. The daily reach of Radio Romania stands at
over 4.5 million
listeners, with a market share of 30%. On
the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the public radio station,
Defence Minister Mihai Fifor, has awarded the Defence
Partner-Emblem of Merit 1st Class to the Current and News Affairs
Channel of the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporation. The high distinction
has been offered in token of
appreciation for the constant support granted by Radio Romania in an effort to
promote the image of the Romanian Army.
Also, as a sign of appreciation for serving the public for the past 90 years, at
the Film’s Gala in Bucharest, Radio Romania received a trophy from the
Bucharest Chamber of Commerce.
