Early years (1925–1933)
The first service of Belarusian radio went on air on 15 November 1925, at the RB-10 radio station named after the Council of People's Commissars of the BSSR. The programs were broadcast for 30 minutes a day within a radius of up to 300 km.[8] Starting in 1926, broadcasts of radio newscasts for workers and peasants started, followed by broadcasts from theaters and clubs and music programs. From 1928, wire broadcasting developed, a weekly broadcasting schedule was formed, taking into account the professional and age characteristics of the target audience.[8] The 1920s also saw the development of regional and district broadcasting. 70-80% of all broadcasting was in Belarusian.[9]
Radio Committee of the BSSR (1933–1953)
In 1933, the Committee for Radio Information and Radio Broadcasting of the Council of People's Commissars of the Belarusian SSR was established. Technical advancements, including the construction of a powerful radio station in Kolodischi, enabled live broadcasting. Sound recording devices were first utilized by Belarusian radio in 1936. By 1938, broadcasting commenced from the new Radio House, which featured three new studios and a workshop for mechanical broadcasting and sound recording.[8]
Following German invasion of the Soviet Union, the RV-10 radio station temporarily suspended its operations. On 1 January 1942, the "Soviet Belarus" radio station began broadcasting on short waves from Moscow.[10] Simultaneously, the German occupation administration launched the "Landessender Minsk" radio station. Initially under the control of the Reich Broadcasting Corporation, it was subordinated to the Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda in 1944. This station broadcast in German and Belarusian, with news sometimes also delivered in Russian.[11] The RV-10 radio station resumed broadcasting in 1944, first from liberated Gomel, and subsequently from Minsk.[10]
Radio Directorate of the BSSR (1953–1957)
In 1953, the Radio Committee of the Belarusian SSR was reorganized into the Main Directorate of Radio Information of the Ministry of Culture of the Belarusian SSR.[12] The 1950s saw the beginning of intensive efforts to improve the quality of radio broadcasting. New equipment was installed in the House of Radio, enhancing the quality of recorded broadcasts.[8]
Work on the television station was underway in 1955, with the Minsk telecenter being commissioned that same year.[13] On 1 January 1956, the Radio Directorate of the BSSR launched its television service, "Belarusian Television" (BT).[14] The inaugural broadcast lasted two hours and was watched by 4,500 viewers.[15] The initial TV schedule primarily featured feature films, newsreels, concerts, and performances, sourced from Moscow and local movie distribution centers. Information programs were often supplemented with film and photographic materials.
Gosteleradio of Belarusian SSR (1957–1991)
In 1957, the Radio Control of the Belarusian SSR was reorganized into the State Committee of the Belarusian SSR on Television and Radio Broadcasting (Gosteleradio).[12] In the 1960s, 70% of the territory of Belarus was provided with television.[14] A two-program TV was formed (based on the programs of the 1st program of the Moscow Central Television).[17] In 1960, complete radio coverage of Belarus was completed,[8] new radio stations appeared: "Belarus" (1962), which provided regular broadcasting to foreign countries,[18] "Belarusian Youth" (1963), "Rural Life" (1964).[8] In 1968, The department of theory and practice of radio broadcasting and television was opened at the Faculty of Journalism of the
State TV and Radio of the Republic of Belarus (1991–1994)
In September 1991, the State Television and Radio Broadcasting of the BSSR was renamed the State Committee of the Republic of Belarus on Television and Radio Broadcasting.[12] In the early 1990s, the unified system of state television in Belarus included 6 television centers, 50 transmitters, and more than 2000 radio relay communication lines. This made it possible to repurpose the program to a more powerful 1st communication channel. The average daily volume of republican and regional broadcasting was 14.5 hours.[20] Gosteleradio became a full member of the European Broadcasting Union in 1993. The 1990s ushered in a new stage for Belarusian radio broadcasting; during this decade, the number of non-state-owned TV channels grew to 150, and their programming increasingly focused on entertainment.[22]
Belteleradiocompany (since 1994)
In August 1994, the President of Belarus established Belteleradiocompany.[23] News reporting was then delegated to the newly created Television News Agency in 1995. Television experimented with new modes of reporting, such as debates and talk shows.[20] The first Belarusian TV series premiered in 1999.[24]
In 1998, Belteleradio launched the Stolitsa radio station, which was the only Belarusian-language radio station covering all of Belarus.[25] Since 1998, Belarusian radio began broadcasting to Russia and Ukraine.[26] Belarus launched its first family channel, LAD, in 2003, followed by the state satellite international channel, Belarus-TV, in 2005.[22]
