Russian Radio In Olympic Vancouver: Do Not Be Surprised To Hear Russian Language on Vancouver’s AM 650
Autoradio in Vancouver
That is right. Russian radio is coming down to Vancouver to air Russian music and commentary during the 2010 Games. Russia's top morning radio station Autoradio will broadcast from the Russia House 8 PM to 5 AM PST every day February 12-28. Autoradio will broadcast from Vancouver to all of Russia, so that their listeners half a world away can get their morning fix of news and music from within the Olympic capital where it all happens. But, Vancouverites will also be able to tune in. Vancouver station AM 650 has leased its airtime to the Russians for the duration of the Games. So don't be surprised to hear Russian jingles on AM 650 on your way back from work. The Vice President of AM 650 Brad Philips says he is not sure if their station will do the same and go to the Sochi Olympics in four years time, but he says they are hosting the Russian radio because AM 650 has always been a community station, and the 60,000 Russians living here in Metro Vancouver are part of that community as well.
"It creates a great profile for us and raises awareness about the station," says Philips. "And, it is just another way to serve the community and be part of the excitement."
When I wondered if the administrators of AM 650 were at all worried that their listeners might be surprised to hear a foreign language radio instead of the familiar station, Philips said they are making announcements ahead of time to prepare their audience. Philips says he hopes that AM 650 listeners will support the station. "It is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It is not something usual, but we will be back to normal after February." Philips notes Russians will also play Canadian music as part of the CRTC rules that require all stations to broadcast a certain amount of Canadian content. But he says it is something Russians are happy to do. It makes sense for them to give the people in Russia a taste of the Canadian music while they are here.
AM 650 did not disclose how much Autoradio paid for their airtime, but Russians are sure spending big to get their presence in town noticed, all in an effort to promote their Sochi Olympics in 2014. Russians rented the Science World, one of the most spectacular and expensive venues in the city, to make it the official Russia House for the Games. The House promises to hold daily parties with lots of music and food. Russian athletes and celebrities are likely to pop up as well. Autoradio are planning their own party at the Russia House, bringing Russia's finest artists and musicians. But, I hear getting tickets to the Russia House might be tricky. So, line up early. And, give Autoradio a listen. Because are not music and passion for the sports the universal language we all understand?
The Fall Of The Berlin Wall And Russia’s Image Abroad
On the day of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, many are asking what the fall of the Berlin Wall really meant for Russia and the rest of the world. I was three years old at the time when the Wall came down, but as I grew up to know the fall of the Berlin Wall was supposed to mean the end of the old ways things used to be: a beginning of new Russia – more liberal and free thinking. But, did the fall of the Berlin Wall really have any effect on how Russia is being perceived abroad? Has its international image improved, stayed the same or worsened ever since that Wall came down?
I was randomly browsing the English website of the Russian news agency RIA Novovsti, when I came across a little survey banner, prompting users to take a poll on what Russia’s image abroad is -- 44.5% of the respondents said “mostly good”, 33% said “mostly bad” and 22.5% said “unclear.” Given that the poll was done in English, I presume people of all the different backgrounds took the survey. So, I found it interesting that the respondents were somewhat split on what Russia’s image abroad was. I definitely think that the poll reflects the general confusion about Russia in the world today. But perhaps, as a young democracy of less than 20 years, it is only now reaching the maturity level required to start doing some serious self-reflection. And, when it will itself figure out how it wants to be perceived, perhaps everyone else will have an easier time understanding it too.
