Despite the hegemony of such huge systems as the Internet and satellite communication networks in the global information space of the world, radio and television broadcasting retains its leading position in providing the most effective information to billions of people living in different corners of our planet regardless of their age, religion, ethnicity and profession. Our television and radio play an important role in recognising the independent Republic of Azerbaijan throughout the world, in disseminating the realities of Azerbaijan, and in promoting the achievements of our independent state in building a democratic society.

November 6th is marked as the professional holiday of Teleradio employees in Azerbaijan. “Baku speaks!” were the first words emitted by the loudspeakers installed in the city’s streets and squares, when Azerbaijani radio was founded on 6 November, 1926. This influenced the political and cultural life of Azerbaijani people. Since then, Azerbaijan Radio, that greeted and amazed listeners has become an inalienable part of millions of people’s lives. Our native radio was also Azerbaijan’s first “voice”.

The first “home” of the radio was Istiqlaliyyat street, 10, on the third floor of the main building of the Azerbaijani National Academy of Sciences (Ismailiyya Palace). It consisted of just 3 rooms. Initially, the radio was broadcast only in Baku and in its suburbs for just 1 hour during a day. After the radio station moved to the building of the Main Baku Post and Telegraph Office in 1929, the working conditions of the radio staff improved, gramophone devices were used on the air, microphones and amplifiers were improved.

Initially, the Baku studio was broadcasting its programmes for an hour. A month later, the volume of these programmes reached 3 hours. Programmes and concerts were broadcasted in the Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian languages. The daily programme was organized by Verle, the first director of radio. In the studios, mostly the main articles of party newspapers, conferences, congresses were read, concert programmes, performances of singers, announcements were broadcasted, and important events in the art and literature of our country were highlighted in programmes.

Publicistic and literary and dramatic programmes of radio has played a major role in the protection and development of the Azerbaijani language. Once a week, at 9 pm, well-known poets spoke in front of the microphone. Such programmes as Fire of Satire, Responsibilities of Literature, For a New Life and Radio Hour sounded on the air.

The first radio announcer was Ismayil Alibeyov, a student of Azerbaijan State Polytechnic Institute, and the first Azerbaijani woman announcer was Raya Imanzadeh, a student of the Law and Economics Faculty of Azerbaijan State University. In September 1927 Ismayil Alibeyov was appointed the chief director. In 1928 Raya Imanzadeh and Anvar Hasanov, a member of Azerbaijan State Youth Theatre, began to work as radio announcers. During the same period, radio announcers were poet Huseyn Natiq (he died during World War II), Samad Samadov (later he started working as a doctor in the united hospital in Buzovna settlement), Asqar Movsumzadeh, honoured artist Leyla Teregulova, philologist Soltan Najafov, poetess Mirvarid Dilbazi, Huseyn Gafarli and Rafiq Aghayev. At the next stage of Azerbaijan Radio development, a new generation of professional announcers has grown, such as Fatma Jabbarova, Zuleikha Hajiyeva, Gultakin Jabbarli, Aydin Garadaghli, Sabutay Guliyev, Ramiz Mustafayev and others.

On October 15, 1964, for the first time, the news and music programme Araz of Azerbaijan Radio went on the air. An introductory music for Araz was written by Fikret Amirov. At first, Araz was broadcasting for 12 hours. After a while some broadcasts of the first radio programme were re-broadcasted by Araz.

Azerbaijan Television started its activity on February 14, 1956, just 30 years after radio. It coincided with the emergence of a new era of transparency in the Soviet society, which was liberated from the Stalinist regime. Construction of the building for the Baku Television Center began in 1954. The spot for construction was selected in one of the highest places in Baku at 1 Mehdi Huseyn Street. The building of the telecentre that was built by Azerbaijani builders and specialists, jointly with the colleagues from Moscow and Leningrad was commissioned in the end of 1955. Until February 1956 pilot programmes of the Baku studio had been broadcasted from time to time.

On the first day of broadcasting, a young actress Nadjiba Malikova, who will later become a well-known artist of Azerbaijan, appeared on the screen. Having started with the phrase “Baku presents!”, she congratulated the audience on the launch of the television, then the feature film “Bakhtiyar” was shown.

The Baku studio used to go on the air with a two-hour programme first two times a week, then – three.

In May 1956 the first announcers appeared on the screen. Among them were Tamara Gozalova, Naila Mehdibayeva, Sevda Ganizadeh, Sarah Manafova, Rena Nasirova, Rakhshan Aslanova, Sima Hasiyeva, Nizami Mammadov.

Later, on television there new generation of announcers appeared: Roza Taghiyeva, Rafiq Huseynov, Opheliya Sanani, Shargiya Huseynova, Sabir Alasgarov, Hijran Huseynov, Hagigat Asgarova, Natavan Hajiyeva, Tamilla Alakbarova, Davud Akhmadov, Gyulshan Akbarova, Nargiz Jalilova, Ulkar Guliyeva, Aygul Garadaghli, Nailya Islamzadeh, Sevda Aghazadeh, Dilyara Salimova, Kamala Huseynova, Rafiq Gashimov, Nailya Babayeva, Nasimi Nabizadeh, Afag Akhmadova, Zamira Dadashova, Aynura Mehdiyeva, Aynur Mammadzadeh. Thus, a school of announcers and presenters was established at Azerbaijan Television.

Since 1957 Azerbaijan Television had started broadcasting 5 times a week, and the daily volume had been increased to 2 hours 20 minutes. In 1962 the volume of daily transmissions increased to 7 hours. Since 1970 the volume of daily programmes of Azerbaijan Television had increased to 10 hours, and in the 80s – to 18 hours. From January 2005 television has switched to a 24-hour transmission.

Thanks to the attention and care of great leader Heydar Aliyev and President Ilham Aliyev, especially during the years of independence, our national radio and television have achieved great successes and are tireless propagandists of Azerbaijani statehood, our national interests and rich culture. Today the programmes of Azerbaijan Radio and Television are distinguished by intellectual level and variety of genres and are watched with interest by a wide audience. Television is equipped with the latest facilities, and new studios have been created. This makes the programmes more interesting, their content and form organically complement each other. Interesting programmes devoted to different spheres of life of the country have won the love of viewers and listeners of Azerbaijan Television and Radio. New interesting projects speak about more successful future of the TV channel.

So, from December 31, 2020, radio and television broadcasting has been restored in Shusha and Khankendi cities, Khojaly, Aghdam and Barda districts, as well as in adjacent settlements. On October 4, 2021, a TV tower was commissioned in the city of Kalbajar. Thus, the broadcasting of eight TV and one radio channel in Kalbajar and 15 adjacent villages was ensured. Moreover, in Zangilan city of and more than 10 villages of the Zangilan district, broadcasting of eight TV and two radio channels has been provided by means of a 30-meter tower installed in Minjivan settlement. Currently, work continues on the restoration of radio and television broadcasting in other liberated territories.

Recommended literature:

1. Xudiyev, Nizami Manaf oğlu. Azərbaycan radio və televiziyası bu gün /N. Xudiyev ; elmi red. K. Abdullayev. - Bakı: Elm, 2000. - 210 s.
2. Hacıyeva, Natəvan. Televiziya dünənim, bu günüm və sabahımdır /N. Hacıyeva ; red. Ç. Ələsgərli. - Bakı: Elm və təhsil, 2016. - 191 s.
3. Xudiyev, Nizami Manaf oğlu. Seçilmiş əsərləri / N. M. Xudiyev. III cild : Radio, televiziya və ədəbi dil / elmi red. K. A. Abdullayev ; ön sözün müəl. M. Məmmədov ; rəy. A. A. Axundov. - Bakı : Elm və təhsil, 2013. - 648 s.
4. Quliyev, Elşad Heybət oğlu. Televiziya: İki əsrin ayrıcında: /E.Quliyev; Ön söz müəll. C.Əlibəyov; Red. S. İsmayılova. - Bakı: İşıq, 1993. - 288 s.
5. Xudiyev, Nizami Manaf oğlu. Azərbaycan radio və televiziyası inkişaf yollarında : seçilmiş əsərləri /N. Xudiyev ; elmi red. F. Əsgərli. - Bakı: Elm və təhsil, 2017. - 435 s.