Two top notch news helicopters would be acquired by the Darik radio in 2009, the Darik CEO Radosvet Radev announced during a special press conference on Monday.

The news conference was dedicated to 16th anniversary of the radio, which will be celebrated on January 21 under the motto: "Darik radio is my first love."

The newscopters will become the major and most significant investment for the upcoming year for the radio, which is the largest private radio in Bulgaria.

The investment amount is estimated at BGN 1 M. The first of the two newscopters will be available in the spring and will be used by the Darik reporters, photographers and cameramen for air coverage of mass gatherings, crashes, natural disasters, and other events. The choppers could make picture and videos, which could then be posted on the Darik Web's news sites. They can fly with speeds of over 200 km/per hour up to three hours nonstop without having to refuel.

These will be the first such helicopters in the Balkans and in Eastern Europe. There are only two similar machines on the "Old Continent" - one in Great Britain and one in Russia.

According to the latest TNS/TV Plan research, the Darik radio is the leader among listeners in Sofia between 20 and 64 years of age. Its advertisement revenues in 2008 are estimated at BGN 9 M.

During the press conference Radev gave an overview of the media development in 2008. The special program lineup for January 21, dedicated to the anniversary of the radio, was also announced.

The host of the Darik afternoon program Dragomir Simeonov received the traditional "Voice of the Year" award.

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