Museum
Romanian Radio Broadcasting Company
Romanian Radio Broadcasting Company is a museum.
About Romanian Radio Broadcasting Company
Overview & Identity
The Romanian Radio Broadcasting Company, officially known as Societatea Română de Radiodifuziune (SRR) and informally as Radio România, serves as the public radio broadcaster for Romania. Established as a state-majority capital entity, it operates a network of national and regional stations, including Radio România Actualități, Radio România Cultural, and Radio România Muzical, alongside international broadcasts via Radio România International. The organization is owned by the Romanian Government and is headquartered in Bucharest at Str. General Berthelot, Nr. 60-64. Its mission encompasses providing quality, balanced, and relevant content to millions of listeners across the country and abroad.
History & Founding
The roots of Romanian radio date back to 1925 with experimental transmissions by the 'Friends of Radio Association' and the University Electrotechnical Institute. The company was legally founded in March 1928, with the first official broadcast occurring on November 1, 1928, inaugurated by physicist Dragomir Hurmuzescu. Originally named the Radiotelephonic Broadcasting Company, it was renamed the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Company on April 4, 1936. The organization survived World War II, during which it faced evacuation and dispersal, and underwent significant restructuring under the communist regime after 1945, expanding its broadcast hours from 4,333 in 1945 to over 9,000 by 1950.
Building & Architecture
The current headquarters building of the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Company, located on General Berthelot Street in Bucharest, was put into use on November 27, 1952. Construction of this facility began in 1949 based on plans developed during the pre-war administration of Vasile Ionescu. The building was designed by a team of architects including Tiberiu Ricci, Mihai Ricci, Leon Garcia, and Jean Beral. This structure replaced earlier facilities and was built to accommodate the growing technical and programmatic needs of the national broadcaster, featuring specialized studios and administrative spaces that have served the institution for decades.
Collection Highlights & Notable Holdings
The company maintains a significant audio archive containing decades of broadcasts, recordings, and cultural heritage. In 2007, the SRR launched the 'Call for Saving Radio Memory' (Apelul pentru salvarea memoriei Radioului), a campaign that garnered over 1,500 signatures from cultural, social, and political figures to protect and preserve these historical recordings. The collection includes unique live broadcasts, such as the first live football match in 1933 and early opera performances from the Romanian Athenaeum. The archives also house the works of the Radio Romania Orchestras and Choirs, including the National Radio Orchestra and the Radio Children's Choir.
Significance & Legacy
Radio România holds a pivotal role in Romanian cultural and political history, having been the primary source of information and entertainment for generations. It was instrumental in establishing national identity through the first live broadcasts of opera, theater, and sports. The institution has evolved from a state-controlled entity to a public broadcaster operating under a legal framework that guarantees its independence. Beyond broadcasting, the SRR influences culture through its publishing house, Editura Casa Radio, and the organization of the Gaudeamus International Book Fair. Its regional stations continue to serve local communities, preserving regional dialects and traditions.