Russia: Voice of Russia on the Crest of a Radio Wave

May 6, 2010 15:19 Moscow Time

© Photo: "The Voice of Russia". Andrei Bystritsky.

The world will tune in to the Voice of Russia even in a 100 years from now, the Chairman of the Voice of Russia radio broadcasting company Andrei Bystritsky is absolutely certain on that score. 

As we can see today, multi-media technologies have already brought radio broadcasting into a new orbit, which has made it possible to broaden the borders and to draw the continents closer. Thanks to the Internet and digital technologies, the audiences in many countries can not only listen to our programmes and see video clips, but also have a good chance to carry out a permanent dialogue with the Voice of Russia radio, Andrei Bystritsky said in an interview on the occasion of Radio Day, which is marked in Russia on May 7th.  

A 21st -century person is a very busy person. People have less spare time today, and each minute is worth its weight in gold. That is why radio remains the only source of information for many, as actually everybody can listen to the radio, whatever the situation, Andrei Bystritsky says. 

There's a large variety of occupations, when people can't watch the TV screen but can hear the announcer. But whether the radio will be preserved in the form it exists today or whether it will be a system of combined services is quite another matter. There's no doubt though that as long as radio will have an audience it will remain a reality of today. I think that radio in its essence is closer to theatre art while television – to the cinema art, said  Andrei Bystritsky.       

As is known, radio came into being late in the 19th century. It was at that time that people witnessed the emergence of a world miracle. On May 7th, 1895, the prominent Russian scientist Alexander Popov demonstrated his invention, that is, the radio receiver he made, which proved to be the first in the world at that time. Popov showed his creation at the session of the Physical and Mathematical Society in St. Petersburg. He was happy to learn that his attempt to demonstrate the transmission of radio waves at a distance of …. 600 metres proved successful.

Thus, May 7th, 1895, went down in history. Early in the 20th century a radio receiver was regarded to be a miracle too. Regular broadcasts in Russia began in 1924. And in 1945, which marks the year of the Great Victory in World War II, a new holiday, Radio Day, was established in Russia.            

Numerous forecasts were made that radio would not have a long life. At first, when television came into being, and then when the Internet appeared. But radio hast adapted to modern conditions and remains today one of the most democratic and speedy forms of media. Really, it is very hard to imagine modern life without radio broadcasts, including news, music and other information, which lift your spirits and put you in a good mood. More than 2,000 radio stations have licenses for radio broadcasting in Russia today. More than 50 radio stations broadcast in Moscow alone. Despite cut-throat rivalry, the Voice of Russia, which broadcasts to foreign countries, continues to go from strength to strength and to win new listeners, the Chairman of the Voice of Russia radio Andrei Bystritsky said.    

We give information to our listeners about events in Russia and inform them of the official point of view on global issues.  At the same time, no doubt, listeners in many countries want to know how various topics are debated around the world. Neither do we have restrictions on information about all sorts of events, said Andrei Bystritsky.

Today the Voice of Russia, which marked its 80th anniversary last year, is undergoing radical changes. Broadcasts in the main languages and information in the Internet are being increased. More than 500 programmes are broadcast to 160 countries on short and medium waves every day, 162 hours daily. The Voice of Russia broadcasts in 40 languages. Besides, visitors to the site http://english.ruvr.ru/  have access to audio and video clips, and also to multi-media items.     

The programmes of the Voice of Russia radio are as trustworthy, operational and competent as they were before, the Chairman of the Voice of Russia radio stressed. And today we wish all our listeners good reception on the air and would like to congratulate them on the occasion of Radio Day!

Source: 

Voice of Russia on the Crest of a Radio Wave: Voice of Russia http://bit.ly/dpqGff

(Yimber Gaviria, Colombia)