World Radio Geneva
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
World Radio Geneva (WRG) is the only English-language radio station that broadcasts in the City of Geneva, Switzerland. It is a commercial pop radio station, however its main shareholder is Radio Suisse Romande (a public radio company). It occupies the 88.4 FM band.
Contents |
[edit] History
In the late eighties 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 Journal de Genève (nowadays, 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 meant that the expectant audience was treated to a test CD broadcast over and over again for several months. 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 shares, 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, plus later started their own magazine/small book full of adverts "On Air".
[edit] Programmes
As of October 2006, WRG has the following programmes
- The Breakfast Show: a show hosted by Mark Butcher. Has a 30 minute BBC bulletin before its first Swiss and local news braodcast. the programmes officially begin 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) only at 07.00 is there a 20-minute bulletin. It also has frequent traffic updates usually from 7.00 to 9.00 Swiss time
- On the Beat: a show hosted by Pete Forster. This programme consists essentially 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.
- The Drive Time show
- Presented by Hansine Johnston. 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.
[edit] Shareholders
- Radio Suisse Romande
- BBC World Service
- Reuters
- Le Temps
- The WRG Community Services Association
[edit] 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 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.
