Radio Zagreb speaking

There has been a lot of talk about Croatian Radiotelevision this May, as it is celebrating its grand anniversary - 100 years of the national media service. It all began on that May evening with the broadcast of the legendary words: “Halo, halo, ovdje Radio Zagreb” (“Hello, hello, Radio Zagreb speaking”). The broadcast room was in the building across from the famous Zagreb landmark, St Mark’s Church. The home of the oldest radio in this part of Europe is not in perfect condition, but you can still enter its courtyard and look for a memorial plaque commemorating the historical event.

The first radio broadcast in southeastern Europe happened on this square in Zagreb…

…and this is the courtyard of Radio Zagreb’s first studio.

There were two hosts behind the mic on that spring day 100 years ago. The first one was Ivo Stern, one of the founders of the radio and its president and co-owner for the first 12 years. In that period, the radio was owned by a group of enthusiasts before it was nationalised. The other host was Božena Begović from the nearby Jurjevska Street, and her voice made history.

Božena was a trained actress who later even served as director of drama at the Croatian National Theatre. She was also a writer and the first president of the Croatian Association of female writers. But in Croatian public memory, she is most dearly remembered for those legendary words. “Halo, halo, ovdje Radio Zagreb”. That was just the start of her contribution to the first Croatian radio. She tried out her acting skills in this new medium, participating in radio dramas and poetry readings, and she was one of the first hosts of children's shows.

Radio Zagreb came here to stay, and it showed its intentions by challenging its own boundaries and astonishing the public with things they didn’t believe were possible! We’re still in 1926, and they are already announcing live open-air broadcasting! A talented Croatian artist, Ivan Meštrović, carved a monument to Josip Juraj Strossmayer, a visionary enlightener. All the media had to be there. Only half a year after the first broadcast from the studio, Radio Zagreb dares to go out into the streets and perform its first live outside the safety of the  studio conditions! Soon enough, the audience could enjoy live broadcasts of religious ceremonies from the cathedral or operas straight from the national theatre. Every day, the radio marked noon by broadcasting the bells from St Mark’s church live.

This is the sculpture that deserved such attention, so much so that even Radio Zagreb came out of the studio for the first time to witness it installed.

Strossmayer Square is especially delightful in May when the irises are in bloom.

The radio quite literally brought the world to Zagreb. Within a year of its first broadcast, international collaborations kicked off. The audience could tune into concerts from Vienna and even some American shows!

Did you know that the radio was partially invented by a Croatian-born Nikola Tesla? Several engineers contributed to the invention. Even though general knowledge points to Guglielmo Marconi as the inventor of the first radio device, it is a lesser-known fact that he used several of Tesla’s patents in his own work.

Radio Zagreb began broadcasting in 1926, and as it grew and adapted, it developed into Croatian Radiotelevision. Several national and many local stations continue to produce quality, diverse programmes to this day. The radio format seems to be the most traditional at Croatian Radiotelevision. Some call it outdated. But many agree that it has changed its role, from being a trailblazer that actually built the basis for the creation of the Croatian Radiotelevision 70 years ago, to the one that safeguards the core values of the national broadcaster: the radio is still giving voices to those who are not heard in the mainstream media anymore, opening up a variety of topics, even the ones that wouldn’t be money-generating enough for the commercial media. And it cherishes its own heritage by building a quality programme with formats such as radio dramas that have existed for 100 years on its waves. We know for sure that 100 years ago, Radio Zagreb, as the start of the national media service, was a driver of change and a voice of a new era. Isn’t it both melancholic and comforting to know that there’s someone or something that's seen and shared an entire century with us?

Header image credit: J. Duval - Aerial view of the historical part of Zagreb. The city wasn’t much bigger than this back in 1926.

Author: Iva SIlla