AVRO

For other uses, see Avro (disambiguation).

AVRO

Country	Netherlands
Licence area	Netherlands
Headquarters	Hilversum, Netherlands
Broadcast area	Netherlands
Parent	AVROTROS
Established	8 July 1923 (1923-07-08)
Launch date	1923 (1923) (first broadcast of NSF) 1927 (1927) (foundation of AVRO)
Dissolved	7 September 2014 (2014-09-07)
Former names	Hilversumsche Draadlooze Omroep (1923-1927) Algemeene Nederlandsche Radio Omroep and Nederlandsche Omroep Vereeniging (1927)
Official website	avro.nl
Replaced by	AVROTROS

AVRO, short for Algemene Vereniging Radio Omroep ("General Association of Radio Broadcasting"), was a Dutch public broadcasting association operating within the framework of the Nederlandse Publieke Omroep system. It was the first public broadcaster in the Netherlands. In 2014 AVRO merged with fellow broadcaster TROS to form AVROTROS.

History

A model of AVRO Studios in the miniature park Madurodam

The main entrance of the studios

On 8 July 1923, Hilversumsche Draadlooze Omroep was launched by the Nederlandsche Seintoestellen Fabriek (in English: Dutch Transmitter Factory) under supervision of Willem Vogt. On 21 July 1923, it provided the very first regular radio broadcast in the Netherlands. In 1927 it changed its name into Algemeene Nederlandsche Radio Omroep (ANRO), followed soon by a merger with Nederlandsche Omroep Vereeniging (NOV). On 28 December 1927, the two merged broadcasters continued as Algemeene Vereeniging Radio Omroep (A.V.R.O., in English: "General Association of Radio Broadcasting").

In 1938, AVRO sponsored what was the strongest chess tournament ever to be held, won by Paul Keres on tiebreak over Reuben Fine.

AVRO was historically associated with the liberal pillar, a fact reflected in its longtime slogan, "promoting freedom."

On 2 September 1999, AVRO adopted its fourth and last logo that consists of the "Avro" wordmark being made up of blue stripes, except the letter "o" that is made up by a blue ball.

On 7 September 2014, AVRO were merged with its fellow broadcaster TROS to create one company known as AVROTROS.

Radio channels

Under NPO Radio 4:

• AVRO Back to the Old School
• AVRO Baroque around the Clock (shut down 1 April 2016)
• AVRO Easy Listening
• AVRO Klassiek
• AVRO Het beste van het beste
• AVRO Radio Festival Classique
• AVRO Steenen Tijdperk Fifties
• AVRO Steenen Tijdperk Sixties
• AVRO Ziel en Zaligheid
• AVRO Operette

Radio programmes

• Arbeidsvitaminen

Television programmes

• Devil's Advocate
• EénVandaag (co-production with TROS)
• Gehaktdag
• Koefnoen
• Op zoek naar Evita
• Op zoek naar Joseph
• The Phone
• TopPop
• Wie is de Mol? (Dutch version of The Mole)

Presenters

These are the Current Presenters Went From AVROTROS

• Chantal Janzen (TV)
• Cornald Maas (TV)
• Gerard Ekdom (TV & Radio)
• Jan Steeman (Radio)
• Pia Dijkstra (TV & Radio)
• Sipke Jan Bousema (TV)

Announcers

• Netty Rosenfeld† (1951-1952)
• Heleen van Meurs (1953-1955)
• Mies Bouwman (1954-1955)
• Ageeth Scherphuis (1956-1966)
• Elizabeth Mooy (1959-1966, 1971–1976)
• Ilse Wessel † (1963-1969)
• Lonneke Hoogland (1964-1968)
• Ria Bremer (1966-1970)
• Viola Holt/Viola van Emmenes (1968-1969)
• Alice Oppenheim (1968-1975)
• Sonja van Proosdij (1969)
• Lous Haasdijk † (1969-1975)
• Ingrid Drissen (1974-1980)
• Jos van Vliet (1975-1976)
• Hans van der Togt (1976-1989)
• Ilona Hofstra (1977-1979)
• Patricia Messer (1979-1985)
• Jack van der Voorn (1983)
• Monique van der Sande (1983-1985)
• Ad Visser (1985-1989)
• Myrna Goossen (1985-1990)
• Simon Visser (1986)
• Roeland Kooijmans (1988-1991)
• Birgit E. Gantzert (1989-1992)
• Judith de Bruijn (1989-1992)
• Pauline Dekker (1990-1991)
• Humberto Tan (1991-1992)

Correspondents

• Link van Bruggen †
• Jan Brusse † (1948-1985)
• Koen Corver
• Anton Foek
• Albert Milhado † (1945-1975)
• Peter Schröder † (1960-1984)
• Max Tak † (1945-1967)
• Fons van Westerloo (1976-1983)