Damascus, Feb.05 (SANA) Damascus Radio has officially relaunched with a new audio-visual identity, marking the start of a modern phase built on digital development, technological upgrades and a renewed national media mission.
The relaunch ceremony was held Wednesday evening at the Damascus Opera House. Speakers said the station is transitioning into a multi-platform broadcaster, expanding its presence across digital platforms, social media and Nile sat satellite broadcasting, alongside traditional radio.
Minister of Information Dr. Hamza al-Mustafa said Damascus Radio has played a central role in shaping public awareness in Syria and connecting communities across the country. He noted that the station was marginalized under the rule of the ousted regime, and is now being restored through a forward-looking approach grounded in innovation rather than nostalgia.
Al-Mustafa said the station is adopting a hybrid model that combines conventional broadcasting with online streaming, mobile applications and podcasts, allowing Syrians worldwide to follow its content in real time.
Director-General of Radio and Television Alaa Barsilo said the relaunch aims to preserve the historical spirit of Damascus Radio while upgrading its technical and digital capabilities. He added that the station is being developed as an interactive platform that listens to the public and addresses everyday social concerns through diverse programming.
Director of the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) Ziad Mahameed described Damascus Radio as one of the Arab world’s oldest broadcasters, second only to Cairo Radio. He said the relaunch is part of a broader revival of national media institutions following Syria’s liberation, alongside the Syria News Channel, SANA and Al-Thawra newspaper.
Acting Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Damascus, Alnur Shah Husseinov, said the relaunch represents an important step toward renewing Syria’s media landscape and strengthening its regional and international presence.
Head of the Radio Tape Library Department, Engineer Etab Saqqour, said most of the station’s extensive audio archive has been digitized, with remaining materials currently being converted to ensure long-term preservation.
The relaunch comes one year after Syria’s liberation from the ousted regime, within a wider process of restoring and upgrading state media outlets.
Damascus Radio officially began broadcasting on Feb. 3, 1947, from the Post, Telegraph and Telephone building on Baghdad Street, before later relocating to the headquarters of the General Authority for Radio and Television.
R.H
