Vatican Radio Set to Accept Paid Advertising on Trial Basis

(26 May 09 - RV) The Director of Vatican Radio, Fr Federico Lombardi, and the Secretary of the Governorate of Vatican City State, Bishop Renato Boccardo, teamed up with the president of Italy’s electricity company Enel today for a press conference launching the first advertisements on Vatican Radio.

The speakers stressed that the project is still in an experimental phase and that care will be taken to place the ads at appropriate times in between regular programming.

The first ads by Enel will be aired in five languages on the radio’s 105 live channel between July and September of this year.

Philippa Hitchen spoke to Bishop Boccardo at the end of the press conference about the new initiative.