Russian language radio channel Dorozhnoe Radio (Traffic Radio) started transmissions in southern Finland on a short-term licence earlier this month. Although radio advertising markets are under strain, Finland’s existing Russian language station, Radio Sputnik, has welcomed the potential competitor.
Dorozhnoe Radio started transmissions using six FM transmitters across southern Finland at the beginning of March. Although presently operating on a three month licence, the station’s Project Manager, Anna Petrova, says the channel will compete for permanent status in next autumn’s issue of licences.
The station serves mainly Russian tourists, Russians living in Finland and those Finns interested in their eastern neighbour’s language, culture and music.
In addition to the Russian service of national broadcaster YLE, Finland has also been home for ten years to Radio Sputnik based in an eastern suburb of Helsinki. Although financially in the red like many other Finnish commercial broadcast outlets, Sputnik is not afraid of the newcomer. Project Manager Artern Semonov believes there is room for both stations. ”Our profiles differ. Sputnik plays more western music and, in accordance with our operating licence, provides news about Finland in Russian,” Mr Semonov comments.
For their part, the new Dorozhnoe Radio says they favour Russian music. The station’s broadcasts originate in St Petersburg and it procures its traffic news from various Internet sources. Radio Sputnik gives traffic information during its normal news bulletins and also carries spots produced by traffic safety organisation Liikenneturva aimed at informing Russian motorists of highway code culture in Finland.
Sputnik currently employs three full-time journalists while Dorozhnoe has no reporters in Finland. However, the station says this would change if a permanent licence is granted.
(Source: YLE)
