Today Marks 90th Anniversary of Egyptian National Radio Broadcasting Station

The 31st of May marks the 90th anniversary of the launch of the Egyptian National Radio Broadcasting Station.

On that day in 1934, the voice of radio presenter Ahmed Salem proudly announced the commencement of 'This is Cairo.'

Prior to the formation of the national radio station, Cairo had its own short-waved, private broadcasting centres with limited emission range, which could be heard in limited areas.

The national radio touched the lives of artists back in the day, giving great exposure on a national level to young shining singing stars including Fathia Ahmed and Oum Kalthoum.

Before radio, music was mainly confined to theatres, private parties and cafes.

Some 80 years later, despite all available technological gadgets, radio is still the most enchanting of all for millions as the one media realm that still gives you room for imagination.

Egyptian Radio also known as the Egyptian Radio's General Program also popularly known as Radio Cairo is the pioneering Egyptian radio station that started broadcasting on 31 May 1934 in agreement with the Marconi Company. The General Manager of the station for the period was Said Basha Lotfi who presided over the station from May 1934 to December 1947.

In December 1947, the contract with Marconi was suspended in favour of an Egyptian national broadcasting station. The General Manager was replaced with Mohammed Beik Qasem presiding from December 1947 until August 1950.

The station is known also for its call "This is Cairo". It is considered the First Program of the ERTU (Egyptian Radio and Television Union).

The station had some of the best known Arab broadcasters of their time, including Ahmed Said, Ahmed Salem, Mohammed Fathi, Mohammed Mahmoud Shaaban, Hosney Al-Hadidy, Galal Moawwad, Safiyya Al-Mohamdis and Taher Abu Zeid.