BUCHAREST, Romania — Nostalgia Radio officially launched in Bucharest on Feb. 23 this year, aiming to create a new meeting point for listeners who enjoy both timeless hits and contemporary sounds. Broadcasting on 90.2 MHz FM in Bucharest, with a reach of over 50 kilometers, on 93.5 MHz FM in Medgidia, near the Black Sea coast, and online through its dedicated app, the station combines music, talk shows, and lifestyle programs designed to appeal to a wide audience.
Though a commercial station, it relies exclusively on special projects partnerships. French company winMedia completed the integration. The company has a long-standing relationship with the Romanian broadcast community — multiple radio networks, such as Radio Guerrilla, EBS Radio, Radio Impuls and Smart FM use its broadcast products and software.
Among the key figures behind Nostalgia Radio is Costin Gache, an entrepreneur and station shareholder. Known for co-founding the popular Nostalgia music festival in 2018, with his brother Cristian Gache and DJ Andrei Chirila, he now brings the spirit of that event — “being connected to the people and to the consumers” — into radio. Their company, which runs the Nostalgia music festival that, they say, attracts tens of thousands of participants, also owns several restaurants and organizes other concerts throughout the year in most Romanian cities. The music festival has built a reputation for celebrating the music of the 1990s and 2000s while bringing together fans from different generations.
Technical setup
Nostalgia Radio operates on a fully integrated broadcast ecosystem supplied by winMedia. This includes a core database server, on-air playout, automated playlist generation, audio library management, advertising traffic management, audio post-production workstations and journalist workstations, ensuring a seamless workflow from the newsroom production to the transmitter located in central Bucharest. winCam software, integrated with the on-air playout system and the Axia audio console, powers visual radio production.
The studio is equipped with six PTZ 4K Telycam cameras using the NDI video-over-IP transport. The audio chain relies on Livewire AoIP technology from the broadcaster’s Axia audio console, providing low-latency for live broadcasting and reliable signal distribution within the fully networked broadcast facility.
Nostalgia Radio also uses Yellowtec microphone booms, Neumann microphones, beyerdynamic headphones, and in its production studio, Yamaha and Universal Audio tools. As for the winMedia integration process, Christophe Rossi first prepared the computers remotely with support from the Wireless IT local partner. The winMedia team then went on-site for five days to make final adjustments and organize training sessions with the station’s employees.
“By combining our proven playout stability with the 4K visual power of winCam and the flexibility of Livewire AoIP, we are giving Nostalgia Radio the tools to lead in a digital-first era,” said Stéphane Tésorière, CEO of Win-Group Software.
Philosophy behind the shows
Nostalgia Radio seeks to create an emotional connection with listeners through music and authentic conversations. Gache says the new station aims to go beyond traditional radio formats. “Our goal is to avoid mediocrity and to respect the values defined with the team,” he explains, emphasizing a philosophy based on creativity, experimentation and close contact with audiences.
Gache, who has no live radio experience, now hosts a weekly show, “Spirit Antreprenorial” (“Entrepreneurial Spirit”), on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. The program explores the “mindset behind launching and developing new initiatives, discussing topics such as creativity, decision-making and risk-taking in business and everyday life.” Designed to remain accessible, the show addresses a broad audience, from entrepreneurs to ordinary listeners interested in making better choices in their professional and personal lives.
“I have learned a lot from my colleagues — keeping the rhythm of the discussion high and making people wait for your second intervention, and so on. I’m used to presentations, but a radio show is very different from a normal presentation, and it’s going to be a challenge for me to succeed in this.” His on-air hands-on approach is strategic. “I believe that to take the wisest decisions, you have to be there playing in the field, like in sports, not staying in an office and looking at some numbers and deciding what to do next.”
Nostalgia’s daily programming
The station’s daily schedule alternates between music and themed talk shows. Weekday mornings start from 6:30 to 10:00 a.m, hosted by Anda Milea and Andrei Niculae, Nostalgia’s program and technical director and former host of the Virgin Radio Romania morning show. Evening programs cover a variety of topics, between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.: Creativity and influence with “Influence Room,” hosted by singer Ana Baniciu; family conversations in “Cum am ajuns aici?” (“How did we get here?”) hosted by Giulia and Vlad Huidu; discussions about overthinking in “Overthinking,” hosted by Lulu; and city life and events in “La o tură,” a Friday evening guide to nightlife and cultural activities, hosted by Furmǎnelu,
On weekends, Nostalgia Radio shifts to a more family-oriented format. Programs include “Mayatown” by Zurli, a children’s show, as well as music and lifestyle segments hosted by well-known Romanian media personalities, such as Andreea Esca, who hosts “Playlist by Alist,” and “Future Nostalgia” by Silviu Lăcătuș.
At Nostalgia Radio, the programs do not follow classic rules. The choice is to abandon pre-established patterns and formulas and build each show around the people who make it happen. “Each presenter has the freedom to experiment and create an authentic connection with the listeners. Nostalgia Radio is a space where people matter more than conventions,” says Gache.
Music remains at the heart of the station’s identity. The playlist consists of 60% Romanian music and 40% international hits, blending genres and eras, from pop icons like Britney Spears to rock classics such as Guns N’ Roses. According to the station’s team, the aim is to create a bridge between generations, combining nostalgic favorites with newer songs that could become future classics. Station manager Andrei Chirilă curates the playlist.
To strengthen its connection with listeners, Nostalgia Radio is building a mobile studio in a van. The vehicle will broadcast certain shows directly from city traffic, allowing hosts to interact more closely with commuters and experience the daily rhythm of their audience. “It was important for us to share people’s lives on the spot, since our original festival business is based on hospitality, bars and restaurants,” says Gache.
Supported by media and marketing partners, such as Monika Munteanu, who Gache describes as “the best well-known influencer in the Romanian market,” the station positions itself as an independent project with a distinctive identity. Much more than just a new frequency, Nostalgia Radio is seen by its founders as a platform for music, storytelling and shared memories, designed to unite listeners across generations.
The author has worked in the radio industry for over 30 years. She has held posts as both a producer and presenter for French stations, such as Radio Notre Dame and Radio France’s France Culture. In addition to her involvement in academic research and EU consulting in Brussels, she specializes in print journalism.
This story originally appeared in the July/August 2026 edition of RedTech Magazine. You can read or download that edition for free here.
You can access all past RedTech publications, also for free, here.
These stories might interest you
RedTech Magazine July/August 2026 drives growth through connections
NGroup rolls out multibrand studios
Tech Focus: WinMedia provides a unified radio and TV automation platform