LEUVEN, Belgium — On Monday June 7, VRT pop station MNM ignited its 10th edition of “Marathonradio.”
For the next three weeks, the public Dutch-language station in Belgium will air a radio program 24/7 that offers tips and tricks for students during their final exams. Marathonradio will broadcast 19 days for a total of 444 hours of live radio.
MNM DJs Peter Van de Veire and Dorianne Aussems are presenting the show with the help of student/presenter Esther Mwanu.
“Who would have thought that today we would still be wearing face masks and taking our exams 1.5 meters from each other,” commented Steven Lemmens, channel manager with MNM. “Marathonradio is here to support students in Flanders. Studying is one mission, connecting students with their parents and friends is also crucial — you don’t study all by yourself.”
Newcomer to the team is 23-year old Esther Nwanu. “Co-presenting Marathonradio is a real challenge as I have final exams myself — the first on June 12,” Nwamu said.
Last year the station aired Marathonradio from VRT’s studios in Brussels, but the 2021 edition is being broadcast from the VRT Radiohuis in Leuven. Some 50 artists have agreed to stop by in Leuven to perform during the program.
MNM also introduced on June 6 the “Pauzemobiel” (Pause Mobile), a mobile radio studio. With MNM presenters Sander Gillis and Laura Govaerts, the mobile is touring some 300 Flemish cities and municipalities to support students nationwide. The station officially inaugurated the Pauzemobiel at the Grote Markt in Leuven before embarking on its trip, visiting some 16 municipalities per day.