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A pop-up internet radio station, Commonwealth Voices, has launched today in Glasgow, a week before the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony. Run by BBC Scotland, the temporary station set up in the East End of Glasgow is airing cultural programmes before and during the games, with contributions from CBA member broadcasters from around the Commonwealth.
Producers at BBC Scotland have picked up on a classic cultural touchstone, the weather: “It’s the first thing anyone asks us about,” they said, “so we’re looking for someone from a place where the weather is amazing. We want to hear what their perceptions of the weather in Scotland are like and will get a weather expert to do a comparison.”
Located in the Caribbean, St Vincent and the Grenadines’ National Broadcasting Corporation is a prime candidate for weather envy, and will be taking part in Commonwealth Voices broadcasts.
Meanwhile Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation is airing Commonwealth Connections, segments by BBC’s classical station about world music from all corners of the Commonwealth. In exchange, Commonwealth Voices will be interviewing Glaswegian David Wilson, who is the assistant manager of Gibraltar’s national football team.
The Caribbean Superstation (part of CBA member Gem Radio Five) has provided a “history of the steel pan” piece for Commonwealth Voices, and will be talking about a cultural exchange that saw school pupils from Trinidad and Tobago travel to Glasgow.
The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation, Radio New Zealand, the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation, Cameroon Radio Television and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation are also taking part in the exchange.
The station will be live on air from 1000-1600 (British Summer Time) every day for four weeks. Listen here online.
Image: The YMCA in Tollcross, Glasgow, produced two songs celebrating the games coming to Glasgow, combining African drums and Scottish bagpipes.
See also:
Exchange stories through the Commonwealth Voices project