The Romanian Radio Broadcasting Company (), informally referred to as Radio Romania (), is the public radio broadcaster in Romania. It operates FM and AM, and internet national and local radio channels. The local stations are branded under the Radio România Regional umbrella.
Radio Romania International is the company's international radio station, broadcasting on three channels in Romanian, English, French, Aromanian, Spanish, German, Italian, Serbian, Russian, Ukrainian, Chinese, and Arabic.
Structure
The company operates radio stations as well as broadcasting related entities, listed below.
National stations
FM and AM, internet, and T-DAB radio stations: Radio România Actualități (main station with news and pop music) Radio Antena Satelor (focused on rural affairs and folk music) Radio România Cultural (classical music, theatre and main news programming) Radio România Muzical (limited reception, classical music) Radio Romania International RRI 1 – Romania Live RRI 2 – Radio Bridges eTeatru.ro National Radio Theatre Radio3Net Florian Pittiș Radio România Junior
Regional stations
Radio România Regional (the regional network, focused on regional news, minority programmes and mostly oldies, or pop music): București FM Radio Cluj Radio Constanța Radio Vacanța (seasonal, summertime programme of Radio Constanța) Radio Craiova Radio Iași Radio Reșița Radio Târgu Mureș Radio Timișoara Radio Romania Brașov FM Radio Chișinău (Moldova)
Other services
Publishing
Politică Românească
Editura Casa Radio (Casa Radio Publishing House)
News Agency
RADOR
Concerts and events
Radio România Formații Muzicale (Radio Romania Orchestras and Choirs) Târgul de Carte Gaudeamus (Gaudeamus Bookfair)
History
Before 1928, there was a pro-radio movement, led by professor Dragomir Hurmuzescu, who, in March 1925, funded "The Friends of Radio Association".
The first experimental transmission was broadcast in summer 1925, during "Bucharest's month". Periodic broadcasts were made during 1926 and 1927 by "The Friends of Radio Association" and the University Electrotechnical Institute. In 1927 a short wave emitter was installed and were made the first transatlantic experimental broadcasts. "The gramophone recording broadcast through electromagnetic cartridge has been clearly heard in Boston, United States". In March 1928 the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Company was legally founded.
The first radio transmission was broadcast on November 1, 1928, 5:00 PM. The first official radio show was inaugurated by the Romanian physicist and professor Dragomir Hurmuzescu, who became the president of the Administration Council of The Radiotelephonic Broadcasting Company.
On December 18, 1928, the first comic radio show was broadcast.
In 1929, the following shows were broadcast: The first show for children: Children's Hour (Ora copiilor, 12 January). The first theater broadcast: the poem "One Autumn" (O toamnă) by Alfred Moșoiu (23 January). The first live broadcast from the Opera: Aida by Giuseppe Verdi (14 April). The first live broadcast from the Romanian Atheneum (28 October).
1928–1937
The number of broadcasting hours increases consistently, reaching 3,517 hours in 1934.
In 1929, 70% of the radio shows are music shows. On 21 March 1930, an opera play from a studio belonging to the RBC is broadcast for the first time (The Barber of Seville). On 11 June 1933 – the first live football broadcast: an international match between Romania and Yugoslavia. On 4 April 1936, the "Radiotelephonic Broadcasting Company" becomes the "Romanian Radio Broadcasting Company". In 1937, Chişinău City Hall gave the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Company a building to open the first radio station in Chişinău, Radio Basarabia, to counter Soviet propaganda.
1938–1944
In 1938, the spoken shows held a percentage of 22.37%, and the music shows 52.32%. The first regional studios: 8 October 1939, in Chişinău, Radio Basarabia (with own shows in Romanian and Russian), (nowadays Radio Moldova); 2 November 1941, in Iaşi, Radio Moldova, (nowadays Radio Iaşi). On 12 February 1939 – a Romanian Show for the America was broadcast. In 1941, the Radio Chorus was funded. During World War II, although the components of the RRBC were dispersed on 22 April 1944, the broadcasting of the shows continued even during the rough moments of August 1944. 23 August 1944 – King's message and the Government's proclamation after the coup d'état were broadcast. 24 August 1944 – the headquarters of RRBC were destroyed during the German bombing of Bucharest.