Voice of Russia begins broadcasts from London

Broadcasting started on March 26, 2012. So far the amount of airtime is only three hours, from 16:00 to 19:00 local time on working days. The rest of the time the radio station broadcasts from Moscow.

“The level of competition in the world is high, and different points of view are present, therefore the Voice of Russia will be very useful for the audience,” Russian Ambassador to the UK Alexander Yakovenko said at the presentation. “There are not only programs about politics but also about culture, sports, and exchange of ideas. I would like to note that the British are very interested in various points of view. That is why, in my opinion, the Voice of Russia is very useful and we are glad that now this radio exists.”

After Washington, Kiev, Istanbul and Rio de Janeiro, Voice of Russia is now producing programs in the capital of Great Britain. The radio company seeks to tell the whole world about Russia and life in Russia, as well as to present and explain Moscow's opinion on global events. The radio station actively supports contacts with compatriots abroad. One of its priorities is promoting Russian culture and language, and through this strengthening a positive image of Russia worldwide.

During a three hour live talk-show, the British audience is presented with events in the world, Russia, and the UK with due account taken of the way they are perceived in Russia. Every month about 200 Russian and British experts, political scientists, and journalists take part in these talk-shows. Their oftentimes opposing opinions come together to form the most objective view of modern events. Eighteen Voice of Russia employees are creating and recording programs in London.

The presentation of the Voice of Russia’s new broadcasting format was held in the Russian Embassy in London during the reception dedicated to the Day of Russia on June 12. All the guests received souvenirs from the presentation.

The Russian Embassy in London has hosted a presentation of the Voice of Russia radio station. Speaking at the event, company’s chairman Andrei Bystritsky said:

“A lot can be said about the history of radio. But I’d like to underscore that the Voice of Russia is the world’s oldest radio station broadcasting abroad and its history runs deeper than that of the BBC. The Voice of Russia first appeared on air on October 29, 1929. However, broadcasts abroad started even earlier, with the first programs transmitted by the Komintern radio station back in the Soviet time. The Voice of Russia isn’t formally recognized as its heir. Still, Komintern went on the airwaves in 1921, trailed by the BBC in 1931 and Deutsche Welle in 1934, which makes the Voice of Russia the world’s oldest broadcaster”.

What hopes do you pin on London? Why did you choose this city among others?

“London is an extremely important, vital city, first of all, because London has always been an essential ‘communication junction’ between Russia and the West. In any case, London is a city and a capital of the country with its own unique traditions and history. So, we want to be heard and understood here. We want Russia to be perceived as a rational, comprehendible and interesting country. We want it to be understood better.”

Today the radio company broadcasts to 160 countries in 38 languages for a total of 151 hours per day, on short and medium waves, in the FM band, via satellite and through global mobile communication networks. In many countries Voice of Russia programming is available on local airwaves. For example, in Turkey the Voice of Russia broadcasts in 15 cities 24 hours a day  (in Ankara on 107.0 FM, in Istanbul on 106.4 FM, in Izmir on 90.3 FM), in the USA (in Washington on 1390 АМ, in New York on1430 АМ), in Brazil (in Rio-de-Janeiro on 1090 АМ, in São Paulo on 1570 АМ), in Kiev (the capital of Ukraine, on 106.0 FM), and also in Serbia, Poland, India, CIS countries, Baltic States and other countries.

Voice of Russia’s website is available in 37 languages. The site boasts over 500 sections and is visited by people from 140 countries. Visitors can choose from online reports, audio, video and multimedia material.