AVRO

{{Short description|Former Dutch public broadcasting association}}

{{Infobox broadcasting network

| name = Algemene Vereniging Radio Omroep

| logo = Avro logo.svg

| logo_size = 160px

| logo_alt = The logo of Algemene Vereniging Radio Omroep

| branding = AVRO

| established = {{start date|1923|07|08|df=y}}

| country = Netherlands

| available = Nationwide

| license_area = Netherlands

| headquarters = Hilversum, Netherlands

| broadcast_area = Netherlands

| launch_date = {{Start date|1923|||df=y}} (first broadcast of NSF)
{{Start date|1927|||df=y}} (foundation of AVRO)

| dissolved = {{End date|2014|09|07|df=y}}

| replaced_by = AVROTROS

| former_names = Hilversumsche Draadlooze Omroep (1923-1927)
Algemeene Nederlandsche Radio Omroep and Nederlandsche

Omroep Vereeniging (1927)

| website = {{URL|avro.nl}}

}}

AVRO, short for Algemene Vereniging Radio Omroep ("General Association of Radio Broadcasting"), was a Dutch public broadcasting association operating within the framework of the Nederlandse Publieke Omroep system. It was the first public broadcaster in the Netherlands. In 2014 AVRO merged with fellow broadcaster TROS to form AVROTROS.[http://www.avrotros.nl/over-avrotros/historie/ Over AVROTROS – Historie] (in Dutch)

History

File:Avro studio Hilversum in madurodam.jpg in the miniature park Madurodam]]

File:Hilversum Pieter Starreveld Avro studio.jpg

On 8 July 1923, Hilversumsche Draadlooze Omroep was launched by the Nederlandsche Seintoestellen Fabriek (in English: Dutch Transmitter Factory) under supervision of Willem Vogt. On 21 July 1923, it provided the first regular radio broadcast in the Netherlands. In 1927 it changed its name into Algemeene Nederlandsche Radio Omroep (ANRO), followed soon by a merger with Nederlandsche Omroep Vereeniging (NOV). On 28 December 1927, the two merged broadcasters continued as Algemeene Vereeniging Radio Omroep (A.V.R.O., in English: "General Association of Radio Broadcasting").{{Cite web |url=http://www.gahetna.nl/actueel/nieuws/2013/fusieperikelen-omroepland-jaren-%E2%80%9820 |title=Fusieperikelen in omroepland in de jaren '20, 8 July 2013 |access-date=12 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309063316/http://www.gahetna.nl/actueel/nieuws/2013/fusieperikelen-omroepland-jaren-%E2%80%9820 |archive-date=9 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}

In 1938, AVRO sponsored what was the strongest chess tournament ever to be held, won by Paul Keres on a tiebreak over Reuben Fine.

AVRO was historically associated with the liberal pillar, a fact reflected in its longtime slogan, "promoting freedom."

On 2 September 1999, AVRO adopted its fourth and last logo, consisting of the "Avro" wordmark made up of blue stripes, except the letter "o" made up of a blue ball.

On 7 September 2014, AVRO merged with its fellow broadcaster TROS to create one company known as AVROTROS.

Radio channels

Under NPO Radio 4:

AVRO Back to the Old School
AVRO Baroque around the Clock (shut down 1 April 2016{{Cite web |url=http://web.avrotros.nl/cultuur/klassiek/nieuws/baroque_spotify.aspx |title='Baroque around the clock' op Spotify | AVROTROS Klassiek |access-date=3 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160524144205/http://web.avrotros.nl/cultuur/klassiek/nieuws/baroque_spotify.aspx |archive-date=24 May 2016 |url-status=dead }})
AVRO Easy Listening
AVRO Klassiek
AVRO Het beste van het beste
AVRO Radio Festival Classique
AVRO Steenen Tijdperk Fifties
AVRO Steenen Tijdperk Sixties
AVRO Ziel en Zaligheid
AVRO Operette