On the 22nd of May there was a nice SpE opening towards Bulgaria. One of the stations I heard was BNR Radio Varna playing some traditional music.
Mrs Kremena Ivanova was so kind to confirm my reception. She wrote that Radio Varna celebrated its 90th birthday on December 9th, 2024 being the oldest radio station in Bulgaria. A bit of history from Wikipedia:
In 1933, Dimitar Kulev, then a student at the Varna Boys’ High School, assembled two amateur radio transmitters together with his physics teacher , with the more powerful of which on January 6, 1934, he broadcast a live performance by the “Sea Sounds” choir.
On May 25, 1933, the Varna Radio Club was established as a section of the Rodno Radio Union. The first live radio broadcast from Varna was made on January 6, 1934 on medium waves with a frequency of 1276 kHz. On July 19, 1934, the Ministry of Railways and Transport authorized the construction of a radio station and in September 1934, the trials of Radio Varna began.
The birth date of the radio is considered to be December 9, 1934, when a concert was broadcast from the Varna “Unity” Hall, which was the first medium wave broadcast in Northern and Northeastern Bulgaria
On 25 January 1935, Tsar Boris III signed the decree establishing the Bulgarian National Radio. The document, which officially marked the beginning of “Radio Sofia”, as the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) was then called. Radio Varna got a new board an became part of BNR.
Another local FM station close to my QTH is SRC FM. Although local? It is in fact regional and a good example of the new strategy on local radio that is currently being implemented in The Netherlands.
Local radio was legalized in the late 80’s in The Netherlands, and soon every town had their own local FM station, usually partly funded by the local municipality. In those days internet wasn’t common and it was seen as a good vehicle to distribute local news and information. As municipalities merged to promote efficiency (in 1990 The Netherlands had 672 municipalities, today there are only 342) local radio stations merged as well. An example is RTV Krimpenerwaard as you can read in my blog.
But today there is another thing at play. The Association of Dutch Municipalities, together with the Dutch Government and the Dutch Association of Local Radio Stations (NLPO) have agreed to implement a strategy where permits for local radio will be awarded to predefined regions only. From 2028 onward there should be no more than 80 regional FM stations, whereas there are some 200 local FM stations today. The aim is obviously a combination of cost efficiency and the desire to improve the editorial capabilities and quality of the stations. More info about this plan can be found on this web page of the NLPO.
Do I like it? Well, as many local radio stations are depending on tax payers money to make things work I can understand the rationale. And mind you, what started as local radio today is not only radio but TV, web, social media presence as well. At the same time the stations are at risk to lose their local identity which is why they came to be in the first place. The distance to their audience might increase, which by the way is also an often heard complaint about the distance of today’s bigger municipalities and their citizens.
The SRC FM coverage area… big than a province (FMLIST)
Let’s look at how SRC FM became so big. And why wouldn’t I try to do this using an AI tool: Grok. After all, we live in 2025! Here we go!
The success of SRC: from local radio to regional broadcaster.
The growth of Stads Radio Culemborg (SRC) from a local radio station in Culemborg to a regional broadcaster covering West Betuwe, Buren, Tiel, Neder-Betuwe, and Vijfheerenlanden reflects a strategic expansion driven by collaboration, mergers, and a national push for professionalized streekomroepen (regional broadcasters). Below is a detailed account of SRC’s evolution based on available information:
1. Origins as Stads Radio Culemborg
Foundation: SRC began as Stads Radio Culemborg, a local radio station focused on serving the municipality of Culemborg. Its early operations were centered on providing local news, music, and community-focused content, typical of small-scale municipal broadcasters in the Netherlands.
Scope: Initially, SRC’s coverage was limited to Culemborg, with programming that included local news, events, and a music format emphasizing “Goodfeeling” and 50% Dutch-language music. It operated on FM frequencies (e.g., 105.8 MHz for Culemborg) and local television channels.
2. National Push for Streekomroepen (2016–2017)
NLPO and Streekomroep Formation: The Stichting Nederlandse Lokale Publieke Omroepen (NLPO), in collaboration with the VNG (Association of Netherlands Municipalities) and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW), developed a plan in 2016–2017 to consolidate approximately 230 local broadcasters into about 80 regional streekomroepen. This was aimed at achieving economies of scale, professionalization, and future-proofing local media. SRC’s region, designated as “streek 28,” included Vijfheerenlanden, Culemborg, West Betuwe, Buren, Tiel, and Neder-Betuwe.
Catalyst for Growth: This national policy provided the framework for SRC to expand beyond Culemborg, encouraging collaboration with other local broadcasters in the Rivierenland region.
3. Collaboration and Mergers (2019–2021)
Formation of SRC as a Regional Brand: SRC evolved into a regional broadcaster through a partnership between three entities:
Stichting Publiek Omroep Buren, Culemborg, Vijfheerenlanden en West Betuwe (SPO-BCVW): This foundation covered Buren, Culemborg, Vijfheerenlanden, and West Betuwe.
Stichting Publieke Omroep Tiel (SPO-Tiel): This represented Tiel’s local broadcasting interests, previously served by Stads TV Tiel.
Nova Media Producties: A media production entity contributing to the joint programming.
Merger with RTV Betuwe (2019): A significant milestone was the merger between SRC and RTV Betuwe, a broadcaster serving parts of the Betuwe region. This merger brought staff, expertise, and infrastructure from RTV Betuwe into SRC, strengthening its regional presence. For example, Carolien Krouwel, a TV presenter and editor, transitioned from Stads TV Tiel to RTV Betuwe and continued with SRC post-merger, highlighting continuity in personnel.
Unified Branding: The collaboration adopted the SRC brand (likely derived from Stads Radio Culemborg) for all media output across radio, television, and online platforms. This included a shared news platform on src.fm, a dedicated SRC News App, and coordinated programming for the six municipalities.
4. Competition and Expansion into Buren, Tiel, and Neder-Betuwe (2021)
Competition with RegioTV Tiel: SRC’s expansion was partly fueled by its successful bids for local broadcasting licenses, often at the expense of competitors like RegioTV Tiel.
Buren (2021): SRC, under the SPO-BCVW banner, won the local broadcasting license for Buren, defeating RegioTV Tiel. The Buren municipal council favored SRC due to its perceived organizational stability and transparency, while RegioTV Tiel faced criticism for withholding financial details and lacking a cooperative approach.
Neder-Betuwe: Similarly, SRC secured the broadcasting rights for Neder-Betuwe, outcompeting RegioTV Tiel and Nova Media. Initial support for RegioTV Tiel waned after new information raised doubts about its reliability, leading the council to choose SRC.
Tiel: Tiel was already part of SRC’s coverage through SPO-Tiel, which had roots in Stads TV Tiel. The merger and collaboration formalized SRC’s role as Tiel’s primary broadcaster.
West Betuwe: West Betuwe was included in SRC’s coverage through SPO-BCVW, aligning with the regional framework of streek 28.
5. Programming and Infrastructure Development
Multi-Platform Presence: SRC established itself as a 24/7 broadcaster across radio, television, and online platforms. It operates on multiple FM frequencies (e.g., 95.6 MHz for Vijfheerenlanden, 105.5 MHz for Tiel, 106.4 MHz for Buren Oost and Neder-Betuwe) and television channels (e.g., Ziggo channel 43 for Buren, Neder-Betuwe, West Betuwe, and Tiel).
Content Expansion: SRC’s programming grew to include regional news (broadcast hourly from 06:00 to 23:00), cultural events like the Fruitcorso, and specialized shows like the “Oranje Top 30” for Dutch music. It also introduced a SRC TV Magazine and covered local sports, politics, and community initiatives.
Audience Engagement: A listener survey confirmed SRC as the number-one radio station in the region, boosting its credibility and reach. The station actively solicits community input for news tips and event coverage, fostering local engagement.
6. Professionalization and Future Ambitions (2022–2026)
Professional Newsroom: SRC has been building a professional newsroom to deliver in-depth, objective, and locally rooted journalism. This aligns with the NLPO’s goal of making streekomroepen more robust and competitive in a changing media landscape.
Planned Consolidation (2026): SPO-BCVW, SPO-Tiel, and Nova Media Producties aim to fully merge into a single streekomroep by mid-2026, streamlining operations under the SRC brand. This move is part of the national streekomroep reform, with the Second Chamber approving plans in October 2023 to reduce the number of local broadcasters to 80 by 2026.
Digital Innovation: SRC has embraced digital platforms, including src.fm, social media, YouTube, and a dedicated News App, to reach broader audiences. This digital shift has been crucial for engaging younger viewers and adapting to modern media consumption trends.
7. Impact of RegioTV Tiel’s Challenges
Weakened Competitor: The decline of RegioTV Tiel, particularly after losing broadcasting rights in Buren and Neder-Betuwe, indirectly aided SRC’s growth. RegioTV Tiel’s organizational issues, lack of transparency, and failure to collaborate with SRC (e.g., rejecting a proposed merger in Buren) allowed SRC to consolidate its dominance in the region.
Market Consolidation: SRC capitalized on RegioTV Tiel’s setbacks to secure a wider audience and municipal support, positioning itself as the primary media outlet for Rivierenland.
8. Current Status (2025)
Regional Reach: SRC now serves Buren, Culemborg, Neder-Betuwe, Tiel, Vijfheerenlanden, and West Betuwe, covering a diverse region with tailored news and programming. Its studio is based in Culemborg (Stationsplein 11A), but its coverage spans the entire Rivierenland area.
Community Focus: SRC remains committed to hyper-local content, covering everything from municipal politics to cultural events like the restoration of a 400-year-old bell in Deil or the Fruitcorso. Its critical and objective reporting has earned it a strong reputation.
Sustainability: By 2025, SRC is well-positioned as the leading streekomroep in its region, with plans for further integration and professionalization by 2026. Its success is attributed to strategic partnerships, a clear regional vision, and adaptability to both traditional and digital media.
Conclusion
SRC’s transformation from Stads Radio Culemborg to a regional broadcaster for West Betuwe, Buren, Tiel, and Neder-Betuwe was driven by:
National Policy: The NLPO’s streekomroep initiative provided the framework for regional expansion.
Mergers and Collaboration: The 2019 merger with RTV Betuwe and partnerships with SPO-BCVW, SPO-Tiel, and Nova Media Producties expanded SRC’s reach and resources.
Competitive Wins: Securing broadcasting licenses in Buren and Neder-Betuwe over RegioTV Tiel solidified SRC’s regional dominance.
Professionalization: Investments in a robust newsroom, multi-platform content, and digital innovation ensured SRC’s relevance and sustainability.
This growth reflects a blend of strategic opportunism, community engagement, and alignment with broader media reforms in the Netherlands.
Well that was easy! Thank you Grok!
To cover the region SRC FM is active on 6 frequencies. I sent a report for my reception of SRC FM on 105.1 MHz, as with 40 kms the transmitter in Tiel is a bit more “DX” than the transmitter in Vianen (only 17 kms). Mr. Kans was so kind to confirm my report with a brief reply on my email to info@src.fm .
Back to my exploration of the local radio scene around Woerden. Today I listened to Rick FM, the local radio station for Uithoorn and De Kwakel. Marco from Rick FM was so kind to reply to my reception report.
Rick FM is owned by Stichting Radio RIK. I couldn’t find where the acronym RIK stands for. What I do know is that Rick FM started some 40 years ago as pirate radio station Radio Cyclus in De Kwakel. Which is not uncommon.
Like many other stations Rick FM is professionalizing and at the same time has to safe costs. So it is cooperating with 4 other stations in the area:
Yesterday there were quite good tropospheric conditions toward the UK. On 104.2 MHz I heard a program in a language that I didn’t immediately recognize. It turned out to be BBC Radio nan Gàidheal broadcasting in Gaelic language.
By clicking on above picture or this link you can hear my YouTube clip with their station ID.
On 104.2 MHz BBC Radio nan Gàidheal is broadcasting from the Meldrum transmitting station, built in 1950 near the village of Oldmeldrum. 752 kilometers from my QTH. In lesser quality I also heard this station on 103.7 MHz from Forfar, a little bit more to the south.
Radio Aalsmeer, a local FM radiostation, is only 23 kilometers away from my QTH. But on 105.9 MHz it sits exactly between Radio Ronde Venen on 106.MHz (8 kms away) and RTW FM on 105.8 MHz (18 kms away). Both are quite a bit stronger here. Fortunately SDR console allows to limit the bandwidth to 0.1 MHz and while it did compromise quality a bit it wasn’t difficult to receive Radio Aalsmeer.
I sent my report to info info@radioaalsmeer.nl . Elbert who is secretary of the station and also works at the news desk was so kind to confirm my reception.
The Studio’s Aalsmeer building
Radio Aalsmeer is broadcasting from the studios of Joop van den Ende, the famous Dutch media producer who founded Endemol and Stage Entertainment. He bought the former flower auction site and transformed it to Studio’s Aalsmeer. And that’s where it all started.
Another nice QSL from a local radio station in The Netherlands. This time from BR6, the local station for Bodegraven & Reeuwijk. John Bekker was so kind to confirm my reception report. He wrote that they have no QSLs, but in thThey have been heard as far as Wolfsburg, Germany, which isn’t bad given their power of only 50 Watts.
BR6 is also part of the RTV Midden Holland group (see my post on RTV Krimpenerwaard). Their antenna is located on an advertising column in an industrial park in the south of Bodegraven. Just over 10 kms from my QTH!
I hate these ugly advertising columns, but if you put a radio antenna on it, I can live with it😉
By the way… did you know that Bodegraven, like my own QTH Woerden is situated along the old river Rhine? Which was once the northern frontier, the “Limes” of the Roman Empire…
Best kept secret in The Netherlands is the beautiful Alblasserwaard. Even on public holidays the roads are quiet, perfect for cycling through a classic Dutch Polder scenery…
I heard Klokradio the local FM station in the Alblasserwaard on 107 MHz with 200 Watts from the village of Molenaarsgraaf. The distance is only 24 kilometers, but reception was a bit compromised with RPL FM from my home QTH on the adjacent 107.1 MHz.
Kees from the Technical Department (who is a HAM operator) was so kind to send me a detailed confirmation email:
Dear Peter,
We hereby confirm your receipt on April 10, 2025, 5:34 PM from Klokradio on 107.0 MHz.
Thank you for your message. It is always nice for us to hear where we can be received. Klokradio is the local broadcaster of Alblasserdam and Molenlanden in the Alblasserwaard. We started our broadcasts on December 15, 1990 and have existed for 35 years this year.
Because we have a large broadcasting area, we now use three transmitters/antennas. One antenna is on a flat in Alblasserdam (97.3 MHz) and the other two in Molenaarsgraaf (107.0 and 92.1 MHz). Attached is a photo of the mast in Molenaarsgraaf. The two horizontally stacked antennas at the top left are for 107 MHz, the yagi opposite for 92.1 MHz. The lower yagi is a receiving antenna for 97.3 MHz, which receives the signal from Alblasserdam and transmits it again on the other two frequencies. In this way we do not have delays when switching between the three frequencies (via RDS in the car). A bit complicated, but that is the disadvantage of a large, elongated service area. In addition, some pictures that you might like.
We transmit 24 hours a day, but because we work with volunteers, a large part of that time is filled by “the computer”. The broadcast that you heard was one of our live presented programs.
Of course I looked at your website; nice to read what equipment you (have) used. Thanks again and good luck with the hobby, 73’s.
Kind regards, Kees (PE1NAC)
Klokradio Techniek
The antenna with the two Klokradio Yagi’s
The municipality Alblasserwaard with the two antenna locations
It’s April… and I’ve a bit of a feeling this is the Doldrum season for us DX-ers. Winter propagation conditions on mediumwave are behind us. During sunny days the solar panel interference makes DX on MF/HF nearly impossible, and regular SpE conditions on FM are still at least a month away…
But radio is never boring, there is always something to look into. So I thought it might not a be a bad idea to spend some time this year in scanning the FM band for local radio. After all it is almost 50 years after local radio was legalized in The Netherlands.
Following the demise of offshore radio stations like Veronica and Noordzee, the government of The Netherlands allowed some experiments with local radio. And the band between 100 and 108 MHz was empty… except for pirate stations taking the opportunity (but that’s a story for another blog). Between 1984 and 1988 there was an “explosion” of local FM radio stations in The Netherlands. Mind you, in those days internet was not available to the public, and both city councils and entrepreneurs saw this as a must have and an opportunity to connect with a local audience.
QSL email from RTV Krimpenerwaard 106.6 FM, a local FM station in “my backyard”
40 years later it seems that a lot of these stations have merged, just as the municipalities they served merged into larger entities. RTV Krimpenerwaard is a good example. In 1989/1990 I received Radio Vrolek (from Nederlek), Radio Vlistam (from Vlist/Stolwijk) and Radio Bergambacht. Together with Radio Zilverstad from Schoonhoven they merged into RTV Krimpenerwaard… just like these villages (and of course, Schoonhoven is a “stad”) merged into the municipality Krimpenerwaard.
Coverage area of RTV Krimpenerwaard… one of the most beautiful areas in The Netherlands, called “Groene Hart” (Green Heart).
The interesting thing is that it doesn’t seem to stop here. If you browse for the website of RTV Krimpenerwaard you end up on the website of RTV Midden Holland, a cooperation between local radio stations in the region we refer to as “Het Groene Hart”. Including my own home town radio “RPL FM” in Woerden. Definitely professional, up to date… but also more and more regional radio rather than local radio… Should we fear this is a bit like what happened to Indepent Local Radio in the UK, with all these stations being bought by “Smooth” or “Gold” making them commercial regional stations rather than stations serving a local community? Your views?
Below the QSLs I got from VROLEK, VlistAM, and Studio Bergambacht…
I don’t think that there are many examples of regional stations which target an audience in two countries? But feel free to drop a comment if you know one. Anyway, Radio Seefunk, or better Das Neue Radio Seefunk is tuned into by some 147000 German and 35000 Swiss listeners.
Email from Radio Seefunk to confirm my reception
The station started as a local radio for the city of Konstanz under the name Seefunk Radio Bodensee. Today they have 13 transmitters across the south of Baden Württemberg in Germany. Rebranded to Das Neue Radio Seefunk in 2019 they bring music from “Vier Jahrzehnten” (4 decades) targeting an 30+ audience.
I received them while staying near Ulm. Mr. Grunewald was so kind to confirm my report sent to redaktion(at)radio-seefunk.de .
Another station from Südtirol that I heard during my holiday in the beautiful Ahrntal. Like Radio Holiday the station covers the valleys of Südtirol with multiple low power transmitters. Radio 2000 has 20 of them. Where the valleys are wider as is the case near the capital of Südtirol Bozen (Bolzano) power is a few kilowatts. But the transmitter I received in Luttach has only 200 Watt. If you know the area it is no surprise that Luttach is chosen as location because it is where the river Ahr makes a 90o turn. From Luttach it possible to cover entrance and “Talschluss” of the Tauferer Ahrntal.
Coverage area of the 200W Radio 2000 transmitter in Luttach
I sent my report to info(at)radio2000.it and got a direct reply from Mr. Lukas Thaler.
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