Swiss radio international shortwave pro#

Programmes were broadcast in nine languages (German, French, Italian, Romansh, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic and Esperanto). The station made a name for itself as a neutral voice of authority during the Second World War and throughout the Cold War. Swiss Radio International first broadcast to the world on shortwave in 1935.

swissinfo/SRI will in future focus exclusively on its multimedia news and information platform, which is available in nine languages. As SRI goes off the air after nearly 70 years, a chapter in Swiss radio history comes to an end. Swiss Radio International (SRI) is to broadcast its last shortwave and satellite radio programmes on October 30, 2004. What I had in mind was something different with a similar name From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for your enthusiastic support over the last year. Last Wednesday, on a sunny morning in Bern, it probably took less than 15 minutes for the Federal Council to strike WRS from the airwaves.Įvidently, we were all hoping for a different conclusion. We are truly saddened that WRS’s current and potential contribution to Switzerland’s image went largely unrecognized and unappreciated among those responsible for deciding WRS’s fate. The increase in audience numbers that won WRS the Swiss Radio of the Year award in 2012 also attests to the station’s growing influence and relevance. To us, it is clear that the station’s mission to help integrate the international community into the life of the country was more than amply accomplished. Many noted the steady progression of the station’s reporting, information and entertainment value since its conversion to public service. Others appreciated stories that paid tribute to the contributions of the international community to the life of Switzerland. Listeners affectionately referred to WRS as their “morning companion”, a “treasured resource”, and a “lifeline” to understanding their new home and its culture and politics. So many WRS listeners have left kind and supportive comments on the station’s website and Facebook page, talking about what the station has meant to them as a new arrival to Switzerland, a long-time expat or a native Swiss who enjoys hearing about their own country from a knowledgeable but different perspective. We are convinced that we had an excellent proposal to carry WRS forward as a foundation-owned, public-interest, non-profit radio, and would have liked the opportunity to address concerns they may have had.

Swiss radio international shortwave pro#

We regret that at no point during the process was the WRS Pro Bono Group offered the opportunity to make a presentation of its plan to officials of the Swiss communication authority, OFCOM, who advised the Federal Council in its decision. Consequently, the DAB+, internet and satellite segments were automatically offered to commercial operator Anglo-Media, which will have the right to use the WRS name if it wishes. The WRS Pro Bono Group had decided early on not to pursue a bid that excluded the FM frequency because we believe it would not be economically viable. In a surprising move, the Council chose not to attribute the FM frequency to either of the two finalist bidders, the WRS Pro Bono Group and Anglo-Media. The Swiss Federal Council’s announcement earlier this week to close WRS was the official response to the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation’s request of last year to be released from its obligation to maintain WRS in its public service portfolio and to pursue the privatization of the station.

We know that you share our profound disappointment and consternation about this unexpected outcome. WRS in its current public radio format will cease to exist. Murrow radio journalism awards in the US, will go off air.įor the first time since 1996, there will be no Swiss-based English-speaking radio on FM in the Lake Geneva area. On 31 August 2013 World Radio Switzerland, Swiss Radio of The Year 2012 and recent winner of five Edward R. 'World Radio Switzerland to shut down in August The latest and last statement from the WRS Pro bono Group.