Tag Archives: Radio Bulgaria

Radio Bulgaria’s Latest QSL Card Celebrates the Historic TULAN Receiver

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor David Iurescia for sharing the latest installment in Radio Bulgaria’s 90th anniversary QSL card series. This month’s card highlights the TULAN radio receiver—produced by Bulgaria’s first radio receiver factory and now prized by vintage radio collectors. The accompanying article explores the company’s history and explains how listeners can obtain this attractive new QSL card by submitting a reception report.

Click here to check it out at Radio Bulgaria.

Radio Bulgaria: QSL Card Features Radio Sofia’s 1939 Broadcast Van

Celebrating 90 Years of Radio Bulgaria’s English Voice

Radio Bulgaria Marks Its 90th Anniversary with a New QSL Card Series

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Paul Jamet, who shares the following update and QSL card images related to Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) and Radio Bulgaria.

As Radio Bulgaria looks ahead to its 90th anniversary in 2026, Bulgarian National Radio has announced a new commemorative QSL card series for listeners who submit reception reports. The series will include 12 different QSL cards, each highlighting a key moment from the history of BNR and the Radio Bulgaria service. According to BNR, a new card will be released each month, along with a short publication explaining the historical background behind the featured image.

One of the cards commemorates Bulgaria’s first radio transmission in 1929, an important milestone that marked the beginning of organized radio broadcasting in the country. Additional background articles from BNR revisit the early days of Radio Bulgaria and trace how the service evolved into an international broadcaster with listeners around the world.

Paul also points to a broader retrospective titled “BNR at 90 – A Story of Pride and No Prejudice,” which looks back on nine decades of Bulgarian National Radio. The piece reflects on BNR’s history through periods of political change and technological transition, while underscoring the role of public broadcasting in preserving culture and maintaining a connection with international audiences.

Attached at the top and bottom of this post are two QSL cards from Paul’s own collection.

Many thanks again to Paul for sharing both the news and the QSL images!

Radio Bulgaria celebrates 89 years of broadcasting

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Vintage Radio Bulgaria QSL Card

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor David Iurescia, who shares the following item from Radio Bulgaria:

Happy 89th, Radio Bulgaria!

16 February marks the anniversary of BNR’s multilingual programme

On February 16, Radio Bulgaria celebrates its 89th anniversary. Throughout these years, our multilingual media has been not only a channel of information, but also an invaluable link with our audience around the world. Today, Radio Bulgaria offers rich journalistic content, including programmes for the Bulgarian diaspora, as well as for foreigners in Bulgaria and abroad. We are active on social media in 11 languages and connect with our listeners through modern digital platforms. The greatest reward for our small team is the trust and affection of our numerous listeners and users from all over the world. [Continue reading…]

Radio Waves: 35 Years of RNZ and Bulgarian National Radio’s New QSL cards

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Welcome to the SWLing Post’s Radio Waves, a collection of links to interesting stories making waves in the world of radio. Enjoy!

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor David Iurescia for the following tips:

RNZ Pacific – 35 years of broadcasting to the region (RNZ)

January 24, 1990, the same day the Auckland Commonwealth Games opened, RNZ International (RNZI) began broadcasting to the Pacific region.

Its news bulletins and programmes were carried by a brand new 100kW transmitter. The service was rebranded as RNZ Pacific in 2017. However its mission remains unchanged, to provide news of the highest quality and be a trusted service to local broadcasters in the Pacific region.

Although RNZ had been broadcasting to the Pacific since 1948, in the late 1980s the New Zealand Government saw the benefit of upgrading the service. Thus RNZI was born, with a small dedicated team.

The first RNZI manager was Ian Johnstone. He believed that the service should have a strong cultural connection to the people of the Pacific. To that end, it was important that some of the staff reflected parts of the region where RNZ Pacific broadcasted. He hired the first Pacific woman sports reporter at RNZ, the late Elma Ma’ua. [Continue reading…]

The BNR’s QSL cards for 2025 present the beauty of Bulgaria (BNR)

Dear friends, we are happy to announce that the Bulgarian National Radio’s QSL cards for 2025 are now available. The two series – one with 6 postcards and the other with 12 postcards – are entitled “The Beauty of Bulgaria.”

The series of 6 cards confirms that you have listened to Radio Bulgaria’s programming in any of its languages.

To receive this series, you need to send reports, indicating the date and the language of the programme you have listened to, as well as content details. QSL cards are sent upon receipt of the necessary number of reports, irrespective of the language in which the programmes were heard on our website. [Continue reading…]

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Radio Bulgaria’s international reach

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Vintage Radio Bulgaria QSL

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Rich Cuff, who shares the following article via BNNBreaking.com:

Radio Bulgaria: A Beacon of Cultural Diplomacy and International Communication (BNNBreaking.com)

In the heart of Sofia, Bulgaria, a beacon of cultural diplomacy and international communication has been steadily broadcasting its message to the world since 1936. Originally named Radio Sofia, the Bulgarian National Radio’s international service, now known as Radio Bulgaria, transcends linguistic barriers by offering news in an impressive array of 11 languages. From its inception as a short-wave transmitter, Radio Bulgaria has evolved into a vital source of information for its global audience, despite its relatively low profile at home.

From Short Waves to Global Reach

Radio Bulgaria’s journey began under the moniker Radio Elza, marking the country’s strategic move into the realm of international broadcasting. The initiative was propelled by the recognition of radio’s potential to cross borders, connecting Bulgaria with distant lands and cultures. Over the decades, the service expanded its linguistic repertoire to include Bulgarian, French, English, German, Spanish, Russian, Turkish, Greek, Serbian, Albanian, and Romanian. This multilingual approach has not only showcased Bulgaria’s rich cultural heritage but has also facilitated a dialogue with the world, fostering understanding and friendship between nations. [Continue reading…]