World Radio Switzerland

Infobox Radio station
name = World Radio Switzerland


city =
area = Geneva & Switzerland
branding = WRS
slogan =
airdate = 25 June 1996 (as World Radio Geneva)
5 November 2007 (as World Radio Switzerland)
frequency = 88.4 MHz FM (in Geneva)
DAB (in Switzerland)
Eutelsat satellite (11.526 kHz horizontal)
format = news, talk & pop music
power =
erp =
haat =
class =
facility_id =
coordinates =
callsign_meaning =
former_callsigns =
owner = SRG SSR idée suisse
licensee =
sister_stations =
webcast = via [http://www.worldradio.ch worldradio.ch]
website = [http://www.worldradio.ch worldradio.ch]
affiliations =

World Radio Switzerland (WRS, formerly World Radio Geneva or WRG) is a (and the only) English-language radio station in Switzerland, broadcasting from the city of Geneva.

It occupies the 88.4 MHz FM band in the Lake Geneva basin, plus (from 5 November 2007) on DAB digital radio thoughtout the country. Starting from 2 November 2007 it is also sending via Eutelsat-Satellite (Frequency 11.526 kHz horizontal)

History

In the late 1980s the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) decided that an English-language radio station in Geneva would enhance its international reputation and provide a useful service to the international organizations which have chosen to set up in the city. To that end, the SBC applied to the Federal Office of Communications for an FM frequency. The first application was made in 1992 - and then rejected. The application was resubmitted in 1995 and then granted. However, by that time the Federal Office of Communications had made it clear that all new radio stations had to be commercial.

This changed the SBC's original idea of mainly using material generated by Swiss Radio International and a predominantly music service was lined up. Investors had to be found, and initially WRG was formed with the SBC, Reuters and the Le Temps as principle shareholders. The start was not smooth. The first general manager was sacked before the proposed launch date, delaying the start of programmes and the studios had to be redesigned after being deemed unsuitable. The delay prompted the Federal Office of Communications to order the start of programmes or have the licence revoked. Swiss Radio International instantly dispatched a group of English-speaking radio presenters and journalists to Geneva from Bern who were told to 'get it started'.

The first show was broadcast 25th June 1996 with Ann Crossey at 1700.

In 2000 there was a change in the ownership. The SBC's role on the board was being represented by Swiss Radio International, who decided that they would rather focus on their own output and shift to more internet content - and Reuters, for their own reasons, were refocusing on their core businesses. So, Radio Suisse Romande took control of the SBC shareholding and the BBC bought much of Reuters' share, taking a seat on the board. Reuters still have an interest in WRG and are still on the board.

In 2005, the station became "Radio of the Year" at the Radio Day Festival in Zürich, and later launched the in-house magazine "On Air".

World Radio Geneva officially ended on October 12, 2007 and began broadcasting as World Radio Switzerland on November 5, 2007 as a public service broadcaster, available on digital radio in many areas of Switzerland. [ [http://www.wrgfm.com/index.php?page_id=36] World Radio Geneva Website FAQ, accessed 12 October 2007]

With its staff of approximately 20, WRS produces three live programmes per day, amounting to 8.5 hours of regular daily broadcast content. Other output includes the Friday night in-house 'Sound Check' slot, and a mixture of syndicated BBC news content and automated playlists as well as bespoke video content for use on air and online.

Programmes

As of October 2006, WRG has the following programmes

*The Breakfast Show: a show hosted by Mark Butcher, including a 30-minute BBC bulletin before its first Swiss and local news broadcast. The programme officially begins at 06.00 Swiss Time and ends at 10.00 Swiss Time. Every hour has a five-minute BBC international news bulletin at the beginning of the hour (eg. 08.00-08.05), with an extended 20-minute bulletin at 07.00. The programme features frequent traffic updates usually from 7.00 to 9.00 Swiss time. A regular feature, 'World Business Report', sees Henk Potts from Barclay's Bank London look over the Financial markets at around 07.50. Another feature is 'Gadget Guru', on Mondays at 08:40 brings listeners news of the latest in modern technology.
*On the Beat: a show hosted by Pete Forster. This programme consists largely of music, with 1-minute bulletins every half-hour (eg. 10.30; 11.30.) On the Beat will also have programmes such as PG (a guide for parents); Get Fresh, a radio cooking programme; Talking Books, a feature, as its name tell us, is all about books; and finally, Live and Clicking, a programme about the internet.
*Drive Time: Presented by Conor Lennon. A show lasting from 16.00 (Swiss Time) lasting until 18.59 (Swiss time). This is the "show" of the evening, and has frequent traffic bulletins, throughout the show. It now includes the fashion programme "The Style File", which is about the Fashion World. The programme usually incorporates a competition of some sort, for instance, free British Airways tickets to London.

Types of listeners

The main listeners come in four types:
#Anglophone ex-pats living in Geneva (44.2% of people living in the city of Geneva in December 2003 were foreigners according to [http://www.geneve.ch/statistique/statistiques/communes/commune.asp?choix=population&commune=commune21 Statistique Genève] ).
#Workers for international organizations like the Red Cross and the United Nations.
#International visitors to Geneva.
#Finally (and this came as a surprise to the SBC), the local Genevois population who sometimes find the local stuff too bland.

References

External links

* [http://www.worldradio.ch World Radio Switzerland]
* [http://www.rsr.ch Radio Suisse Romande]
* [http://www.englishradio.co.uk European English Language Radio Stations]