History
Radio in Ethiopia began operating in 1933, under Emperor Haile Selassie, as the first radio stations built in two years prior in 1931. It was used for broadcast information to the masses, marking all-encompassing progress of the country. The foreign legations had earlier imported equipment for their own use. The Italian company Ansaldo granted a contract for the largest and more powerful station by which the Emperor was able to deliver his first message on 31 January 1935 for the first time.[1]
During the Italian occupation of Ethiopia in 1936, the Ethiopian Patriots (Arbegnoch) demolished the radio telegraphic station, prompting the Italian to establish the new radio station at the center in Addis Ababa. On 7 September 1935, the first successful test had conducted over radio telephone in Akaki station, and broadcast Amharic-English language to denounce the Italian invasion. However, the radio station at Ras Kebede Sefer was not under operational service; the building was used as a residential training school for military radio operators in early 1935 and beginning of 1936.
The Italian also destroyed the radio station after a war with British army during the Second World War East African Campaign in 1941. The British military force then embarked to repair the Broadcasting network in Ethiopia since 1942. The Ministry of Information employed a contract through Mackay Radio Telegram Company, the 7.5 KW transmitting station at Jimma Road left behind the Italians, was fixed with the radio telegraphic international broadcast to America and Far East were organized. Daily bulletin, music, and government announcement were broadcasted.
The first radio station was Radio Ethiopia, depicted as a masterpiece for propaganda tool of the government of Ethiopia.[2] Car radio was introduced by this time where they received messages from Haile Selassie, public announcement, news, plays, and proclamation. By 1950, recorded program transmission was commenced as recording materials available for assistance. Under Proclamation No.131/1952, the electrical means of transmission program was transferred to the the Imperial Board of telecommunication. In 1953, there were short wave transmission in Ethiopia. The modern radio transmission began in 1957 when the United States donated 2.5 million dollars to install ten-kilowatt short-wave transmitter at the Jimma Road Station and launched in 1960. The Voice of the Gospel was granted to broadcast Christian radio station in Addis Ababa which officially opened in 1964. The station contributed to broadcast through different African languages.
The Lutheran World Federation was granted to establish radio station and maintained the government interest to include private sectors in the field, and to broaden radio broadcasting service as an alternative.
As of December 2020, Ethiopia has 50 community radio stations that have broadcast license to the Ethiopian Broadcast Authority with four types of licensing and broadcasting.[2]
List of radio stations
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References
- ^ "19.The Coming of the Radio, and Developments in the Field of Currency, Education, and Public Health". Link Ethiopia. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
- ^ a b Siyoum, Tsigereda (2019). History of Radio Ethiopia from 1974 to 2000 (Thesis thesis). Addis Ababa University.