English Language Radio in Geneva
In the late eighties the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) decided that an English language radio station in Geneva would enhance its international reputation and provide a useful service to the international organizations which have chosen to set up in the city. To that end, the SBC applied to the Federal Office of Communications (Ofcom) for an FM frequency. The first application was made in 1992 - and then rejected. The application was resubmitted in 1995 and then granted. The first show went out on June 25th 1996. Traditionally, Switzerland is home to a large anglophone community. The English language is very widespread and is used as a link between Switzerland's various linguistic communities. Switzerland is extremely open culturally and economically, and thus has all the services an anglophone could possibly want. So much so that some English speakers who have lived in Switzerland for years have not felt the need to learn one of the national languages, since they are able to deal with any situation in English. The bulk of the anglophone population is concentrated in the Lake Geneva area (31%), where the cities of Geneva and Lausanne are located. Other thriving communities also exist in large cities such as Basle (12%), Zurich or Zug (9%). The percentage of anglophones has reached as much as 13 to 15% of the population in some communities such as Founex or Bogis-Bossey, near Geneva.
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Frequency: 88.4 FM/DAB across Switzerland
Located in: Geneva Available: Geneva/Switzerland
About: News, Public affairs, Education, Culture, Talk. "WRG-FM is Switzerland's only English language FM radio station. A broad mixture of the best new tunes and classic hits, solid international and local news and lively presenters informs and entertains every day. Reflecting the international diversity of Switzerland, WRG-FM's staff come from all over the world, including Switzerland - and the same is true for the audience. WRG listeners range from workers in the UN and other organisations, people who have simply chosen to live in the region and increasingly those who were born and brought up in the region who find WRG-FM meets their needs. English mother tongue listeners make up a small proportion of WRG-FM's listenership."
News: On 1 November 2007, after 10 years of operation as a commercial radio station, World Radio Geneva became World Radio Switzerland. See link for more details.
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Frequency: 88.8 FM (Geneva - {Lake Léman region including: Lausanne, Vevey, Montreux, Switzerland}, Annemasse, Douvaine, Ferney-Voltaire, Evian, Gex, Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, Thonon-les-Bains, France), 88.1 FM (Annecy and adjacent lake area), 89.8 FM (Faverges, Seythenex), 99.7 FM Bellegarde,Cruseilles, Frangy, Seyssel), 87.8 FM (Chamonix, Argentière, Vallorcine), 87.7 FM (Châtel et Chapelle d'Abondance), 91.6 FM (Oyonnax). DAB 1463.232 MHz (block LG) in Paris and Lyon. Satellite See Radio 74 Frequencies for details
Located in: Haute-Savoie (4 miles South of Geneva)
Available: Northwest Alps (France), Haute-Savoie & Ain, Adjacent French-speaking Switzerland:
About: Educational, News, Public affairs, Religion, Culture, Talk. The first English-language radio station in France, set up in 1982. Operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Essentially a bilingual english-french educational radio network, oriented towards news and serious topics with thought-provoking conversation and interviews rather than entertainment. It is licensed by French authorities as a not-for-profit, educational and cultural station. It must derive most of its income from voluntary listener contributions.
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English Language Programming is also available at certain times, on the following local /regional networks:
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Frequency: 88.4 FM Located in: Basel Coverage: Switzerland
About: News, Public affairs, Music, Lifestyle, Talk. The English Show is every Tuesday at 18:30. It has now been on the air for five years in Basel. The English Show is a organization of English speaking Expats in Basel, Switzerland. Our purpose is to bring the expat community and interested local English speakers information about cultural events and the community. See The English Show for more details
Website: Radio X Home Listen Online: Radio X Online Contact: rx@radiox.ch
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Frequency: 93.0 FM in Zurich and Geneva. For frequencies in other areas in Switzerland, refer to www.radio-tropic.ch/frequenzen.html
Located in: Zurich Coverage: Switzerland
About: News, Music. At 14:00 and 16:30 every week day, the station provides English language news bulletins from Radio France Internationale (RFI).
Website: www.radio-tropic.ch/ Listen Online: Tropic Online Contact: info@tropic93.com
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Also available on-line are the following English Language radio stations specifically targetting English speakers in Geneva:
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Frequency: Online Located in: Geneva Coverage: The world, online
About: Music. Live & archived DJ mixes. Basic.ch is funded by the City of Geneva's Department of Cultural Affairs
Website: Basic Home Listen Online: Basic Online Contact: basic@basic.ch
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The following International Broadcasters have Shortwave radio services available, many of which are either entirely broadcast in English, or else carry a selection of English programming:- Click here for more information