- Anglo-Polish Radio
-
Anglo-Polish Radio (also known as Radio ORLA and ORLA.fm) is the only bi-lingual radio station for Polish and English-speaking audiences in the United Kingdom and Ireland[clarification needed]. The station also broadcasts to listeners in Poland. It is based in London. George Matlock is Radio Orla's editor-in-chief and managing director[1].
ORLA.fm launched on May 18, 2006 after the British Broadcasting Corporation's decision to close many European language radio services in December 2005.
ORLA.fm is a community-based radio station which also accepts advertising and covers major Polish community events and champions the "little person" too.
The launch date was chosen because the station wanted a positive reason to exist. 18 May is the birthdate of the Polish Pope John Paul II, arguably the most famous Pole internationally.
The radio station appears to play more English music than Polish, largely based on what its listeners have said they want to hear. Often Polish audiences can hear English music on the playlist which has yet to appear in Poland! The English music has since January 2010 taken on a special format. The music of the last 50 years from January in that month is played. In February, the playlist is from the past 50 years of chart music in February, and so on.
But Radio ORLA.fm also broadcasts more chill-out and alternative music[2].
Radio ORLA.fm has been a partner of Hayes FM 91.8 in west London since September 2007, when Hayes launched, and provides Hayes with the weekly English-language cultural show "London Bridge" hosted by presenter and director of Radio ORLA.fm, George Matlock and "Fine" Art Skupienski. A recent addition has been Briton Kingsley who offers his take on Poles.
Since January 2010, Radio ORLA.fm also has a studio at Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College, where it trains media students aged 16–18 years in radio reporting and production work.[3]
See also
References
External links
Categories:- Radio stations in London
- Radio stations established in 2006
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
