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| Broadcast area | Saxony Saxony-Anhalt Thuringia |
|---|---|
| Programming | |
| Language | German |
| Format | Contemporary hit radio |
| Ownership | |
| Operator | Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR) |
| MDR Sachsen MDR Sachsen-Anhalt MDR Thüringen – Das Radio MDR Kultur MDR Aktuell MDR Jump MDR Klassik MDR Schlagerwelt MDR Tweens | |
| History | |
First air date | 16 May 1964 (as DT64) 1 May 1993 (as Sputnik) |
Former names | DT64 (1964–1993) |
| Links | |
| Webcast | Listen Live |
| Website | Official website |
Sputnik orMDR Sputnik is a youth-orientedGermanradio station, and is part ofLeipzig-basedpublic broadcasterMitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR), based inHalle. The station, which primarily broadcastspop androck music, is the successor to theEast German youth station DT64, founded in 1964 on the occasion of theDeutschlandtreffen der Jugend [de]. It was given its present name on 1 May 1993, followingGerman reunification in 1990; the new name, inspired by theSovietSputniksatellite, was the suggestion of the thenMinister-President of Saxony,Kurt Biedenkopf.
While DT64 was broadcast throughout East Germany, Sputnik is available onFM only in one of the five federal states which replaced theGDR and thus only in one of the three federal states that formMDR's coverage area (Saxony-Anhalt); it is available throughoutEurope via theAstra satellite on 19.2° east inDVB-S standard as well as on mostGermancable networks onDVB-C and in the MDR area (Saxony,Saxony-Anhalt, andThuringia) onFM and onDAB+.
DT64 lost all FM frequencies in the first half of 1992. In four new federal states these frequencies were given to private radio stations, inBerlin andBrandenburg a new public youth radio station (Rock Radio B, laterFritz) started on the frequencies of DT64. DT64 had to switch to AM in summer 1992. AM transmissions lasted for one year. The station was renamed MDR Sputnik. Between 1993 and 1997MDR Sputnik was available only viaAstra satellite analog audio subcarriers and a special German digital Radio System DSR, receivable via cable and satellite. In 1997 FM coverage in Saxony-Anhalt was increased. The station lost most of its news and spoken word content.
In December 2006, the station was relaunched as a high quality youth station, under new station manager Eric Markuse. English news bulletins were added between 1.30 P.M. and 6.30 P.M. Various other news content returned, as well as more diverse music, especially independent music.
In summer 2010 MDR cut its budget again: English news and most news content ceased, station manager Eric Markuse left. Today (2014) Sputnik is a standard music station.
Sputnik also operates aninternet radio station,Sputnik.de, which has channels forElectronic Music, melancholic music,R&B,dance, rock music, and a stream broadcasting the alternative evening programmePopkult all day.
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