MECHELEN, Belgium — On Saturday, Dec 18, two Dutch-language public broadcaster stations in Belgium — Studio Brussel and MNM — ignited a joint project, DWW Radio. The name referred to the year-end charity campaign, “De Warmste Week” (“The Warmest Week”). It was part of a broader campaign by the public broadcaster, the VRT, “Kunnen zijn wie je bent” (“Feel Free to Be as You Are”).
With DWW Radio, the two VRT stations shared their frequencies to heat up the airwaves with the ‘widest possible variety of music requests.’ The VRT’s Eén channel and the VRTNU app also carried DWW’s video feed.
From a Barge
During the week of Dec. 18–24, presenter-tandems hosted a 24/7 request show from a barge in the Dyle River. The opening show was hosted by MNM’s Peter van de Veire and Fien Germijns, presenter with Studio Brussel. Some 20 Belgian artists also performed live for DWW Radio.
Broadcasting from a barge posed some logistical challenges. “We established a radio link between the on-air studio and a studio in the site,” said Jan Sulmont, brand team manager of VRT. “The actual radio connection was via a split remote set — one to Mechelen, the other to Brussels.
The music content and DJ presentations were transmitted to the main studio in Brussels and mixed with other sources like telephone calls and duplexes.” The main studio in Brussels transferred the radio and TV signals to both Studio Brussel and MNM, their respective streaming apps, TV Eén, Canvas and the VRTNU app.
Mobile Studio
In addition to the floating on air-studio, DWW Radio crossed the country with “De Microfoon” (“The Microphone,” a mobile interview set) and ‘Iedereen Danst’ (Everybody dances).
“Because of the pandemic, we couldn’t allow the public in the radio studio — so the audience remained at home, and we traveled Flanders’ roads to interview our audience,” said Brahim, Flo and Laura, presenters of “De Microfoon.”
With “Iedereen Danst,” DWW Radio invited listeners to hit the dancefloor at home every day at 10 a.m. and submit their moves on video for broadcast on TV.
DWW Radio closed on Dec 24.