Voice of Russia (VOR), the former Radio Moscow during the Soviet era, will end shortwave broadcasts as of 1/1. In addition, effective 12/9 as a result of a decree signed earlier this month by Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Voice of Russia radio company officially ceased to exist and merged with several other state-run news agencies as part of Rossia Segodnya, a Russia-based international news service, reports ARRL. Putin’s decree also abolished the State Fund of Television and Radio Programs, placing it under control of All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company.
Voice of Russia currently broadcasts to 160 countries in 38 languages for 151 hours per day on short and medium wave, on FM, via satellite, and online. Earlier this year shortwave transmissions were cut to 26 hours a day in all languages, down from more than 50 hours a day in 2012.
VOR will continue to broadcast online and via three medium-wave transmitters. See the ARRL story here.
RBR-TVBR observation: The VOR US Edition also airs on Way Broadcasting’s WZHF-AM DC; WTOP-HD3 DC; Multicultural Radio Broadcasting’s WNSW-AM NYC; Hubbard Broadcasting’s WILV-HD2 Chicago; and Beasley Broadcast Group’s WKIS-HD2 Miami/Ft. Lauderdale.
