Radio for foreign tourists on air in Moscow

24-hour English-speaking radio station Moscow FM has started broadcasting in Moscow on 105.2 FM. It positions itself as the capital's event guide for foreigners and Muscovites learning English. The news were brought to light by the PR Director of joint editorial office Moscow Media Ms Maria Mikhaylova: “Music, proper English, updates on interesting cultural events in the city, weather, traffic – that's what we have on air”.

Most of the airtime will be given to foreign music; 20-30% - to news and information. Apart from the city events, Moscow FM is going to give coverage to international news. 60% of the radio's 20 members of staff are foreign citizens. The news content, including programs on cultural and leisure activities, will be provided by Russia Today TV network. “I think we are going to get our audience pretty fast. Not only are there many expatriots and tourists in Moscow, but also a great number of youngsters, who speak English or plan to learn it” – says Maria Mikhaylova.

Officially some 150 thousand foreigners are temporarily employed in Russia; most of them are Americans, British and Germans living in Moscow. Moscow FM is owned by the City Government. The media holding Moskva Media also manages two TV channels, a radio station and an online news portal m24.ru.