The first summer month was marked by certain changes on Armenian radio market. The first Armenian independent radio station Hi FM 105.5, which went on air in September 1994, stopped its programs and started rebroadcasting the Russian Radio “Europe Plus”. The other FM station, Radio HAY 104.1, directed towards the lovers of Armenian music, was the first Armenian broadcaster to work in on-line mode (www.radioHAY.com).
The owner of the two stations Anahit Tarkhanian explained the stoppage of Hi FM 105.5 broadcasts by financial problems. "Considering the serious competition, mainly coming from the Russian radio stations, rebroadcast in Armenia, the concept, the production of Hi FM 105.5 must be completely reconsidered, which will require significant investment. We decided to make a pause to reposition ourselves in the market”, Anahit Tarkhanian said.
So far, according to Tarkhanian, all the efforts and funds are concentrated on the new project – the on-line launch of Radio Hay, the test broadcasting of which have started since the beginning of June. The project was supported by Armenian Development Agency, which made an interest-free loan to the Radio so as to popularize the idea of Internet broadcasting in the country, conduct a marketing research, etc. Radio HAY is scheduled to start permanent on-line broadcasts by mid-July.
