Rádio Renascença, also known as 'RR' or just 'Renascença', is a private, commercial, Portuguese radio station owned by various organizations within the Portuguese Catholic Church, such as Patriarcado de Lisboa. It was founded in 1934 and started broadcasting in 1936. It owns another three stations: RFM - the most listened radio in the country, Mega FM and Rádio Sim (channel targeted to elderlies aged 55 and up).
RR simulcasts some programmes with Rádio Sim; unlike RFM and Mega FM, newscasts and religious events are broadcast simultaneously on RR and Rádio Sim.
Rádio Renascença is available in Portugal mainland on FM. Rádio Sim is available on mediumwave, covering widely Portugal mainland, but also on FM in some regions.
Radio Renascença's (Rádio Sim) most powerful mediumwave transmitter is situated near Muge at 39.119939N 8.711472W, which works on 594 kHz with a power of 100 kW (although currently using 60 to 80 kW). It uses as antenna a 259 meters tall guyed mast radiator, which is the tallest structure of Portugal.
Founded by Monsignor Lopes da Cruz, trial emissions began in June 1936 with a transmitter installed in Lisboa. On 1 January the following year began the regular broadcasts.[1] A month after the start of daily broadcasts, the studios were ready at Rua Capelo and Radio Renascença settled there where it still remains.
In 1975 the radio station was occupied by labourers, but in December of the same year it was returned t the Catholic Church and, contrary to almost every other radio stations, Renascença never was nationalized
In 1986 Radio Renascença begun to air two distinct program grids, 24 hours a day; from Radio Renascença (Nationwide MW and FM) and from RFM (Nationwide FM). More recently in 1998, Mega FM is created in order to reach a younger target.