The latest edition of the English DX Programme from Radio Bulgaria - the last one to be broadcast on shortwave - confirms that it used to broadcast clandestine stations: “We should mention that from the 1960s to the 1980s, Bulgarian shortwave transmitters were used to broadcast programmes of Radio Moscow and three stations of the communist parties of Chile, Spain and Iran, respectively Radio Magallanes, Radio España Independiente and Radio Courier of Iran.”
Radio Bulgaria will end its shortwave transmissions at 2200 UTC on Tuesday 31 January.
on Jan 28th, 2012 at 20:24
First, I wouldn’t call Radio Magallanes a clandestine station per se. It was one of two Chilean services of Radio Moscow. R.Magallanes can be compared to Radio Marti or RL/RFE.
Second, I wouldn’t put much faith into statements coming from R. Bulgaria. Sadly, the station seems to have a little sense of its own history. For example, its Russian service is still claiming to have started in 1994. Even though, the Russian broadcasts from Bulgaria began right after the WW2, if not earlier.
From what I heard, many of R.Bulgaria’s transmitters and antennas were constructed with the Soviet financial and technical assistance for the purpose of Western hemisphere coverage.
on Jan 28th, 2012 at 21:37
Yes, you’re right. I am aware that Radio Magallanes was a Radio Moscow service. We used to listen to it when I worked at BBC Monitoring in 1974-78. I have slightly amended the text. I believe the information on the other stations is correct as it agrees with information previously published elsewhere, but I don’t recall the Bulgarians themselves confirming it previously.
on Jan 29th, 2012 at 09:39
I also thought (during 70s-80s) that Radio Euzkadi was also broadcast by Bulgaria.
on Jan 29th, 2012 at 11:55
They also omit to mention Bizim Radyo (”Our Radio”) of the Turkish Communist Party.
on Jan 29th, 2012 at 17:00
Escucha Chile ! was the spanish service of Radio Moscow for Chile . Radio Magallanes, which was also on air thanks to Radio Moscow facilities, was a product done by the Chile Comunist Party people , rather than by announcers of Radio Moscow, so IMHO, the info is right.
on Jan 29th, 2012 at 17:06
Radio Magallanes existed in Chile ( as the radio station of the comunist party) and when they have to escape from Chile, they keep on doing radio thanks to Radio Moscow, now under their new clandestine status with Radio Moscow support.
on Jan 29th, 2012 at 19:52
Juan, maybe it was different before that, but back in the mid 1980s Radio Magallanes and Escucha Chile! shared the writers and announcers (not to mention the transmitters - one program followed another on the same frequencies). Moreover, the same announcers could also be heard on Latin American, European and Cuban services of R.Moscow. Editorially, Escucha Chile! was called to provide the official Soviet line. Bureaucratically, both broadcasts were part of Radio Moscow’s Dept. of Programs for Chile.
I guess a better definition for R.Magallanes would be a ’surrogate’ service. - Somewhat similar to what Radio Marti or RT America are trying to do today. Both Chilean radio services were shut down very abruptly after the announcement of reestablished diplomatic relations between Chile and USSR, with Radio Magallanes going out first.