Slovenia’s Radio Celebrates 40 Years of Breaking Barriers and Airwaves

If you've ever driven through Slovenia and heard a traffic update in English or found yourself grooving to international hits on the radio, chances are you were tuned in to Radio Si. The country's only multilingual radio station aimed at foreigners is celebrating 40 years on air this year, CE Report quotes The Slovenia Times.

Part of the national broadcaster RTV Slovenija, Radio Si was founded in Maribor with a mission to connect Slovenia with the world - and the world with Slovenia, editor-in-chief Darko Pukl told the Slovenian Press Agency.

Its main pitch to listeners? "A lot of good music and little talk and ads."

Broadcasting in English, German, and Slovenian, the station reaches a diverse audience: foreigners who live, work or study in Slovenia, tourists passing through, business executives and diplomats, and Slovenians abroad who want to stay in touch with life back home.

As the country's provider of real-time national traffic updates in three languages, Radio Si is also a hit with drivers in a nation famously obsessed with its often jam-packed motorways.

Diverse content mix

Known for its eclectic music mix, the station may lean on Top 40 hits, but it caters to a broad range of tastes and gives ample airtime to Slovenian music, including hidden gems from lesser-known local artists.

It is also a staunch supporter of Slovenian music beyond the airwaves. Its annual Standouts competition for the best new song drew a record 132 entries this year. Also popular is the Radio Si Main Stage, a mini-concert series showcasing local talent.

Radio Si is also part of the Euronet Plus network, which facilitates content exchange across Europe, especially on EU-related topics. "We exchange news items and our voice is heard in other countries," Pukl said.

The Slovenian Roots programme extends that voice even further, reaching the descendants of Slovenians around the globe. "We teach foreigners the Slovenian language, and we bring foreign languages closer to Slovenians," Pukl added.

Bold move that bred success

Launching such a station back in 1985 was a bold move. "A very courageous act," Pukl recalled, noting that commercial stations didn't exist in Yugoslavia at the time. "The political situation was not favourable, especially when you broadcast in German."

Radio Si officially became Slovenia's sixth national radio programme in 2001. Its nationwide coverage was established in 2007, but even before that, its signal from the Pohorje transmitter reached as far as Vienna, Lake Balaton, and Zagreb.

The station reached a record audience last year, averaging 42,000 daily listeners - and that figure only includes those in Slovenia. International listenership remains difficult to quantify with current audience measurement tools.

Months of celebration

To celebrate its 40th anniversary, the station will host a series of events across Slovenia, kicking off on 20 June in Murska Sobota, followed by a concert by Batista Cadillac at Ljubljana Castle on 23 June.

In July, Radio Si will be part of Kranfest in Kranj, and in August, it joins the Jernejevo celebrations in Šentjernej.

On 30 August, the station will host a special gathering of foreigners living, working, or studying in Slovenia in the northeastern region of Prlekija, and in September, it will make an appearance at the Sweet Istria culinary festival in Koper.