Finnish public broadcaster Yle launches a new afternoon radio program on November 10. The show aims to strengthen local content across Finland's 18 regions.
Radio Suomi lähelläsi will air weekdays from 1 PM to 4 PM starting November 10. Host Anna Sirén will lead the broadcast with support from journalists across Finland.
The program features approximately 70% locally produced content from each region. It will cover current topics, events, and people from specific areas.
Local news editor Aki Karjalainen described the concept as 18 separate but simultaneous broadcast windows. Each region will hear content specifically about their area.
Sirén called localism the cornerstone of Radio Suomi in a statement. She expressed excitement about balancing historical continuity with fresh approaches.
The changes follow significant listener dissatisfaction with earlier programming shifts this year. Regional broadcast streams ended after organizational restructuring.
Listeners voiced strong disappointment about losing local content. Some said they would rather turn off their radios completely.
One listener wrote that local character had completely disappeared. Others criticized autumn programming changes across Yle's radio channels.
Morning program Ykkösaamu moved from Yle Radio 1 to Radio Suomi. Morning and daytime broadcasts merged into a single current affairs program.
Social media comments revealed frustration about Radio 1's transformation. Listeners described the changes as incomprehensible and called for reversals.
Yle's radio and audio chief Jonna Ferm later addressed listener feedback. She acknowledged radio's importance in daily routines and understood changes could feel unpleasant.
Ferm emphasized balancing tradition with renewal across Yle's radio channels. She noted they aim to offer listeners different alternatives.
The broadcaster must consider diverse listener preferences within its audience. Changes follow Yle's common strategy and parliamentary working group requirements.
This new program represents Yle's attempt to address criticism about lost local content while maintaining national broadcasting standards. The success of this initiative will depend on whether listeners feel their regional voices are truly being heard again.