Russian Capital Moscow Starts 24-hour English-Language Radio

Moscow's first 24-hour English-language radio station, Moscow FM, started broadcasting on Monday.

The radio station is the brainchild of the city government's Moscow Media holding, hopes to become a must-listen-to resource on events in the capital, RIA Novosti reported.

"Today we are opening the first English-language radio station in Moscow. I hope that this station will open our city towards the whole world," Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said in a statement.

Sobyanin encouraged the foreign visitors and residents in the city to listen to Moscow FM on 105.2 FM saying: "Let visitors to the capital city, whether they are here on business or holiday feel at home here."

The new radio station will mostly broadcast international music. The speech content, including news about cultural events, traffic and weather, will make up to 30 percent of the station's airtime.

News stories, provided by the state-funded English-language TV channel Russia Today, will also cover international events, PR director Maria Mikhailova said.

Mikhailova expressed the hope that this new radio station will become popular among foreign tourists and expats in the city, as well as Russian residents who want to learn English.