Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Jamet, who shares the following information. However, I want to acknowledge that we are late in posting this message that Paul originally shared on April 14, 2025.
Hi Thomas,
Following the demolition of the rotary antenna at Moosbrunn near Vienna, Slovakia has announced – in its French-language program of April 10th, 2025 – the demolition of the antennas at its Rimavská Sobota transmitter center!
Here is the (automatic) translation of the script for the announcement, which was rebroadcast yesterday, Sunday April 13, in the mailbag program:
The Transmitter Used for RSI Broadcasting to Be Demolished
The transmitter near Rimavská Sobota, located in the cadastre of the municipality of Uzovská Panica, awaits demolition. The mid-twentieth-century infrastructure enabled broadcasts to be made all over the world, but it has fallen into disrepair in recent years. The transmitters will be blown up in the coming months. So says Marek Marcinov, head of Towercom, a company providing radio and TV broadcasting services.
The transmitter site east of Rimavská Sobota has been unused since 2022 due to the advent of more modern technologies. “Analysis has shown that a facility of such dimensions can be considered an unnecessary economic burden on society. Finally, the masts were frequently the target of adrenaline enthusiasts who, despite a strict access ban, climbed the structures and often risked serious injury or even death,” explained Marek Marcinov to justify the transmitter’s demolition.
The transmitter near Rimavská Sobota consists of 12 pylons, between which the antennas of the shortwave transmitter are strung. The area also includes three directional short-wave antennas and a medium-wave antenna mast. All transmitters will be demolished as part of the removal of unnecessary infrastructure.
“The mast and transmitter structures will be destroyed by a controlled and safe explosion. The work will be carried out in three phases, from April to July 2025. The area will then be redeveloped and the rubble removed. The project is scheduled for completion in October 2025,” explains Marek Marcinov. He added that further plans for the use of the area had not yet been specified.
The history of transmitter construction near Rimavská Sobota dates back to 1952, with the first test runs beginning in 1956. In the 1980s, the area was renovated. “The Rimavská Sobota transmitter can be considered a unique technical innovation. Shortwave broadcasting from Rimavská Sobota was intended for the whole world. With two transmitters, we covered the Atlantic coast of South America, territories in the USA and Canada, parts of Australia, Iran, India and, of course, the whole of Europe,” recalls Marek Marcinov.
Since 1993, Radio Slovakia International has been broadcasting worldwide on shortwave precisely thanks to this transmitter.
TASR, RSI
Zuzana Borovská; Foto: Facebook/P?átelé AM
Summary :
Demolition of the RSI Transmitter Site
The shortwave transmitter near Rimavská Sobota, Slovakia—used for broadcasting Radio Slovakia International (RSI) since 1993—is set to be demolished by controlled explosion between April and July 2025. The facility, built in the 1950s and inactive since 2022, is now considered an economic burden. It once transmitted Slovak broadcasts worldwide, including to South America, North America, Australia, and Asia. After demolition, the site will be cleared by October 2025.
Best wishes
Paul JAMET
