QSL No. 2: Commemorating Bulgaria’s first radio signal

To mark its 90th anniversary in 2026, Radio Bulgaria is issuing a new series of 12 QSL cards to confirm listeners’ reception reports. Each card highlights a key historical moment from the history of Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) and the Radio Bulgaria programme. At the beginning of each month, a special publication will share interesting facts related to the images featured on the cards.

• Our new QSL cards: 90 years BNR and 90 years Radio Bulgaria

The second QSL card for 2026 is dedicated to the first radio signal in Bulgaria.

On 1 August 1929, Bulgaria brought into service its first national telegraph radio station. Radio communication was maintained mainly with nearby European capitals, and on 25 November of the same year, the words “Hello, hello, Radio Sofia!” were broadcast for the first time.

The initial transmission was carried out by technician Georgi Valkov, who built a 60-watt transmitter using parts from old radio sets. The experimental broadcasts featured gramophone recordings of folk music and lasted six hours a day.

In May 1930, regular broadcasts of Rodno Radio (renamed Radio Sofia in 1934) began, laying the foundations of radio broadcasting in Bulgaria.

To receive a QSL card, listeners should send a reception report indicating the date and language (for Radio Bulgaria) or the date, time and frequency of the broadcast heard (for other BNR programmes), along with details of the programme content.

Reports can be sent via a channel convenient for you:

• by e-mail: reception.report@bnr.bg

• by mail to the following address: Bulgaria, Sofia, 1040, Dragan Tsankov Blvd. 4, BNR, Desislava Semkovska

It is mandatory to provide a postal address for feedback.

We remind you that BNR also confirms reception reports with old series of QSL cards. If you wish to receive any of them, please indicate it in the report.

Editor: Elena Karkalanova

Posted in English by E. Radkova