Radio Centraal
Encyclopedia
Radio Centraal is a Belgian
"underground" radio station in the old city center of Antwerp.
It began broadcasting on 31 October 1980 as one of the first pirate radio
stations which started around the country in protest against the broadcasting monopoly of the national state networks. It always was and still remains an independent radio project with many experimental programmes and niche music. The station is structured as a non-for-profit organisation. The contributors are all volunteers and all the on-air talent finance the investment and cover the running costs of the project. In this way, Radio Centraal can stay independent from local government or commercial sponsors. Most programming is in Dutch
, but there are many programmes in English and other languages.
The station offers a starting platform for aspiring, ambitious and creative radio broadcasters, whom are given licence to experiment in sound, editorial, music, reportage and language. Several have gone on to careers in the Belgian national media. Original founder members such as Jan Balliauw and Stefan Blommaert now work at VRT
television as international correspondents.
Since the studio is located close to the Steen
on the river front boulevard, Radio Centraal can be said to have its fingers on the pulse of a living city. It has organised and supported many inner city cultural activities, parties and "art" radio projects over the years.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
"underground" radio station in the old city center of Antwerp.
It began broadcasting on 31 October 1980 as one of the first pirate radio
Pirate radio
Pirate radio is illegal or unregulated radio transmission. The term is most commonly used to describe illegal broadcasting for entertainment or political purposes, but is also sometimes used for illegal two-way radio operation...
stations which started around the country in protest against the broadcasting monopoly of the national state networks. It always was and still remains an independent radio project with many experimental programmes and niche music. The station is structured as a non-for-profit organisation. The contributors are all volunteers and all the on-air talent finance the investment and cover the running costs of the project. In this way, Radio Centraal can stay independent from local government or commercial sponsors. Most programming is in Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
, but there are many programmes in English and other languages.
The station offers a starting platform for aspiring, ambitious and creative radio broadcasters, whom are given licence to experiment in sound, editorial, music, reportage and language. Several have gone on to careers in the Belgian national media. Original founder members such as Jan Balliauw and Stefan Blommaert now work at VRT
Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroep
The Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie , or VRT, is a publicly-funded broadcaster of radio and television in Flanders ....
television as international correspondents.
Since the studio is located close to the Steen
Het Steen
Het Steen is medieval fortress in the old city centre of Antwerp, Belgium, one of Europe's biggest ports. Built after the Viking incursions in the early Middle Ages as the first stone fortress of Antwerp, Het Steen is Antwerp's oldest building and used to be its oldest urban centre.Previously known...
on the river front boulevard, Radio Centraal can be said to have its fingers on the pulse of a living city. It has organised and supported many inner city cultural activities, parties and "art" radio projects over the years.
Further reading
- Understanding alternative media, Olga Guedes Bailey, Bart Cammaerts, Nico Carpentier, ISBN 0335222102