Radio In Sardinia 

A review of radio heard on holiday in Alghero 

 by the Wireless Waffler

2003

 

 

The stations on the FM band were all of good quality and not compressed together on the band as I found in Crete last year.  I did find that with careful positioning of the aerial I was able to pick up a wider variety of signals.  I  also acquired off the Internet a list of stations that I could expect to hear.  Some of the frequencies were different though in the area I monitored the programmes.  I did get some excellent recordings, the signals were all of good strength and therefore my mini disc recordings did not suffer any interference from the laser mechanism.

 

Sardinia is one of the places that Italians prefer to go to on their holidays.  It is off Italy but nearer to Africa at one end and closer to Corsica at the top where Alghero is situated.  In June it is in excess of 30 degrees centigrade, as a result most of my recordings and observations were made around midday and at night when generally I sought some break from the heat in the air-conditioned apartment we had booked.

 

Unlike other foreign language broadcasters I found that they played more English language current pop, than local music in programmes.  The only exception was Radio Musica Italia.  All stations carried commercials and some of these were common to each one.  Obviously the advertising works in the same manner as in the UK by constant repetition everywhere in the hope that it enters the sub conscious of the listener. It is similarly backed by TV and newspaper advertising.

 

Information in this article was taken from my own listening and notes.  I also used the In Radio supplement, which gives details about the RAI radio stations only and is an insert inside  "TV Radiocorriere" This publication is weekly and gives the television programmes, similar to the UK listings magazines

Also the web listing at http://www.webpiu.it/radio/sardena.htm

I also used information from "La Nuova", the Sardinian edition.  I have reproduced their listings in this report.  I would be grateful if any Italian speaking readers can update and correct information noted here. Please bear in mind I do not understand a word of Italian!

 

Stations heard:

 

RAI Radio 1: On 88.4 FM.  This is the national radio station, which is relayed to transmitters in the Island from mainland Greece. I heard a variety of programmes on this, some speech based.  Near the end of our holiday there was a live football commentary on a match between Finland and Italy. There is nothing as riveting as listening to a commentary in Italian, they become very animated and excited as goals and tackles occur.

 

RAI Radio 2: On 90.3 FM.  A national radio station relayed from Italy and seemed also to have a variety of programmes on it.  Not sure from the listing in Italian what the programmes were about.  I remember hearing a documentary about Afghanistan women on this though at one time.  Before I left for this holiday I thought their website implied that it was a rock station.

 

RAI Radio 3: On 94.5 FM.  A national radio station relayed from Italy. It appears to be the arts station with classical music and those kinds of things.

 

Now going down the dial locally from 88 downwards were:

 

89.2 FM RTL 102.5 FM: A good station with a mix of English and Italian pop.  They also had a male announcer who sounded like an Italian Emperor Rosko.

90.0 FM Radio Venere: This was as far as I could make out the local station for our area. It was a commercial radio station with a variety of Italian and English language music and adverts. I noticed local adverts for shops in nearby Sasssari being aired.

 

90.3 FM RAI Radio 2 - details above

 

92.0 FM Radio Nagor Esterie: A very weak station but commercials and a mix of Italian and English music and some indie rock and rock music at times.

 

94.2 FM Mondoradio: A lively station playing a mix of English and Italian music with adverts. They played a laser burst in between each commercial.  They have a website with streaming audio.

 

98.2 FM Radio Onda Stereo: Pop music in Italian and English with adverts

 

101.0 FM Radio Deejay: without a doubt the most popular station in Sardinia, based on the number of stickers I saw on cars and on shop windows. A very fast music station with dance and pop music. It sounds as if the djs' "mix" their own tunes on air.  I had to switch it off after 30 minutes because it was too up to date and the modulation was very high and compresssed. Commercials were also aired.

 

101.3 FM Radio Capital: A very good radio station, one of my favourites with a high proportion of English music both old and new.  The announcers all speak at a fast pace.  On my radio with low batteries the station cut out every ten to twenty seconds.   I am not sure if this was an intermittent fault with their transmitter or my radio – some days reception was good.

 

102.0 FM Mondoradio: Another output for station listed at 94.2 FM

 

103.4 FM Radio Musica Italia: Really pleased that this station was on air. Believe it or not it was the only one that played a high variety of Italian Music.  In France and Crete I found that they broadcast a high proportion of their own national pop and classical and folk music.  Commercials are also aired.

 

103.65 FM R Sintony: A good pop station, not as strong as others on the band but with a mix of English and Italian music and commercials.

 

105.10 FM Radio Monte Carlo: Yes Monte Carlo and RTL broadcast to other European Country and seem to do so very successfully. This station plays at times a high proportion of English pop but does not neglect Italian. The advert breaks were occasional but long and lively.  The music was good bouncy pop; English and Italian of a very contemporary top 40 and oldies style. The news on the station was very detailed and over five minutes long - so they must put some effort into the output and gear it to Italy and Sardinia. I heard the announcers mention Sardinia on more than one occasion.

 

107.0 FM Radio Maria: A Station with a higher proportion of Italian tune. Commercials

 

I did note that at around midday at least three stations had a different phone in competition element for prizes.  This was amusing to listen to and one appeared to be in front of an audience in a hall inviting contestants to sign tunes.  The announcers roared with laughter as people attempted to sign live on air – quite a tonic.

 Copyright Wireless Waffle Sound and Vision Site 2003