At a signing ceremony in Beijing, China Radio International (CRI) has renewed and extended its agreement with WRN, the London-based international broadcaster and transmission service provider, for the extensive provision of global broadcast services. The new contract was signed by CRI Vice President, Mr Xia Jixuan and WRN Chairman, Mr Karl Miosga, at CRIs headquarters on 9th December 2004.
WRN has worked closely with CRI for more than six years since signing a Collaboration Agreement in Beijing in 1999. WRN works on CRIs behalf, distributing its daily programmes to reach listeners around the world using AM and FM transmissions that augment CRIs traditional Short Wave broadcasting from China. CRIs daily programmes can be heard on FM in Berlin and Moscow and on AM in London, St Petersburg, across Western Europe, South West Russia, Ukraine and Romania. WRN identifies the most appropriate transmitters, undertakes local negotiations and monitors the output for CRI.
Furthermore CRIs daily programmes in English, French, German and Russian can be heard on WRNs international news networks, distributed around the world via satellite, cable, local FM relays, wireless applications and the Internet.
After the signing ceremony, Mr Karl Miosga, WRNs Chairman, said: WRN is honoured to have signed a new agreement expanding its cooperation with CRI. 2004 saw significant growth in both local and new media outlets that carry CRI programmes. WRNs networks distribute CRI on key platforms such as Sirius satellite radio in the USA which has now achieved over 1 million subscribers, and Sky digital which is reaching over 8 million homes in the UK and Ireland. 2005 is going to be an exciting year full of new developments and WRN looks forward to bringing these to CRI. After the signing ceremony WRN met with Mr Wang Gengnian, the new Director General of China Radio International, to discuss issues of mutual interest to the two organisations.