Thursday, February 10, 2011

Voice of Russia to launch on MW in Switzerland

The Voice of Russia (VoR) has been granted permission to broadcast in Switzerland on mediumwave from the Monte Ceneri transmitter [on 558 kHz]. The Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) awarded the station a corresponding licence.

VoR aims to start broadcasting on 1 March 2011. The programme service is targeted at foreign listeners as well as Russian citizens living abroad and reception will be possible primarily in the Tessin and northern Italy. As Voice of Russia is transmitted from Switzerland, the programme service is subject to the registration obligation and programme content is subject to supervision by the Independent Complaints Authority for Radio and Television and general supervision by OFCOM.

In accordance with international agreements, a total of five mediumwave frequency bands are available for Switzerland, though these are not currently being used. An assessment of requirements performed by OFCOM in autumn 2008 indicated that interest in mediumwave had wained in the Swiss media sector.

On 22 December 2010 the Federal Council adopted the new Broadcasting Directives thereby creating the legal foundations for releasing unused frequencies to prospective customers.

(Source: OFCOM via followthemedia.com via Media Network Weblog)

No comments:

Post a Comment