Radio Moscow (English, Soviet Union 1980s)

In the late 1970s its English language service was renamed Radio Moscow World Service. The project was launched and supervised by a long-time Radio Moscow journalist and manager Alexander Evstafiev. Later a North American service, African service and even a "UK & Ireland" service (all in English) operated for a few hours per day alongside the regular (24 Hour) English World Service as well as services in other languages, the "Radio Peace and Progress" service and a small number of programmes from some of the USSR republics.

Broadcasting Soviet information was Radio Moscow's primary function. All programmes (except for short newsbreaks) had to be cleared by a "Programming Directorate", a form of censorship that was only removed in 1991.

At its peak, Radio Moscow broadcast in over 70 languages using transmitters in the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, and Cuba.

Radio Moscow's interval signal was 'My Country's Vast' (Russian: Широка страна моя родная), played on chimes. This has been changed to Pictures at an Exhibition by Mussorgsky in 1991. A move has been made in an attempt to drift away from the image of the communist propaganda media.

One of the most popular programmes on air in the 1980s, due to its informal presentation that contrasted with most other shows, was the 'Listeners Request Club' hosted by prominent radio presenter Vasily Strelnikov. Another popular feature which began on Radio Moscow was Moscow Mailbag, which answered listeners' questions about the former Soviet Union and later about Russia. For almost five decades, between 1957 and 2005, the programme was presented by Joe Adamov, who was known for his command of the English language and his good humour.

Radio Moscow continued to broadcast until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, and was renamed the World Service of the Voice of Russia.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• radio
• moscow
• voice
• of
• russia
• soviet
• union
• federation

[Ronbo710]

I wish these Soviet era broadcasts were available to listen to again. Cool and exotic!

[tenorismo]

How about the Jazz show with Carl Yagorov ? I loved listening to Radio Moscow

[FoolOfGods]

@SuperRip7 Er ... you knew the announcer personally, or you are telepathic [perhaps a product of project of the notorious ESP enhancement program 'Project Hat Stand']. FYI I worked with SAC Europe in European Command and Control Centre, only civilians could believe that the military would have welcomed a nuclear exchange. BTW Due to the size of Warsaw Pact forces available and ready, the probability is that the West would have been most likely to launch a nuclear strike not KGB

[EdRingwald]

In fact, around 1985 WHBO had a promotion that was protesting the interference coming from Radio Havana's transmitters that were relaying Radio Moscow at the time. After all, WHBO - along with other Tampa area broadcasters on the AM band - were asking the FCC to increase power to help combat the Cuban interference prevalent on the AM band in the 1980's.

[EdRingwald]

I remember the days when Radio Moscow - relayed to the USA using Radio Havana's transmitters on 1040 kHz - was an American broadcaster's nightmare as far as interference is concerned due to the high power.

Back in the mid 1980's, we had an oldies station, WHBO, on 1040 kHz here in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area. During the day, Radio Moscow's power was so high that you could hear them droning in the background while you were listening to oldies music.

[pbrick6301]

i remember it well; during the 1970s and 1980s we americans had to turn to radio moscow for the best music. yes we would try to pick up the overseas signal late at night so we could listen to the great sounds of groups like "autograph".

[MrViTopol]

@pbrick6301 in fascist amerika, the news spread you

[draoi99]

Oh the nostalgia. As a kid I used to listen to Radio Moscow in the middle of the night. All those news items about record wheat harvests and five year plans. Sounded so strange and bizarre to me. Even to a 10 year old kid it sounded like bullshit propaganda.

[pbrick6301]

Shows like this helped USA opinion of Soviet people. Before this all we knew about the Soviets is what Ivan Kolloff told us on TV, that the Soviets legs were very strong from having to stand in line 8 hours for a loaf of bread.

[ulaghchi]

@SuperRip7 Bomb some more Iraqis you shmuck.

[SuperRip7]

@ulaghchi I am against genocide you Canuck. My comments are spot on and accurate. Your comments are unhelpful. This announcer is a traitor that would have welcomed a nuclear holocaust if the dreaded KGB had their way.

[ulaghchi]

@SuperRip7 Go do some genocide again then you stupid Yank.