About Hitradio SKW

Hitradio SKW

Hitradio SKW (styled radioSKW) is the local station of Königs Wusterhausen and the Dahme-Spreewald region — broadcasting from the "cradle of German broadcasting", where the first speech-and-music transmission aired on 22 December 1920. Launched on 1 September 2005 as Sender KW — Maria McKee's "Show Me Heaven" opening the first live broadcast after a short moderation — it became HitRadio SKW on 29 November 2011 (adding the Lübben transmitter) and relaunched again in 2021 as radioSKW. Under the slogan "Total lokal in Brandenburg" it serves the districts LDS, LOS and MOL. The operator is the Radio Königs Wusterhausen GmbH.

Overview

Hitradio SKW is a private regional Brandenburg broadcaster with its studios since summer 2014 in Wildau, in Karl-Marx-Straße near Wildau station. The station leans on its unique heritage: public broadcasting in Germany began in Königs Wusterhausen, where the Reichspost transmitted the first Christmas concert in 1920 from the Funkerberg transmitter station. In May 2021 radioSKW took over the regional TV station KWtv, adding a video division for clips, image films and live event streaming; in 2023 the SKWvideo channel was established for regional businesses, towns and municipalities.

History

On 1 September 2005 Sender KW launched via the Königs Wusterhausen and Rauensche Berge transmitters. With the 2011 managing-director change to Thomas Fiedler came the relaunch: on 29 November 2011 the station, now also via the Lübben transmitter, became HitRadio SKW, supplying the districts Dahme-Spreewald (LDS), Oder-Spree (LOS) and Märkisch-Oderland (MOL) with music — "Total lokal in Brandenburg!". In summer 2014 the station moved into its current Wildau premises. For its 16th anniversary in 2021 came a soft relaunch and renaming to radioSKW, plus the takeover of KWtv.

Programming

The programme offers adult contemporary hits and pop with a total-local Brandenburg focus: regional news, service and event coverage for the Dahme-Spreewald, Oder-Spree and Märkisch-Oderland districts. Since 2021 the station also produces video clips, image and information films and livestreams events.

Coverage & Audience

Hitradio SKW broadcasts on FM 105.1 MHz from the Königs Wusterhausen area, on DAB+, via cable and satellite, and as a worldwide livestream. The transmission area covers the districts Dahme-Spreewald, Oder-Spree and Märkisch-Oderland.

Ownership

The operator is the Radio Königs Wusterhausen GmbH. Since May 2021 radioSKW also runs the regional television station KWtv.

Digital Presence

The station operates radioskw.de with a livestream alongside apps, podcasting and social media channels, plus the SKWvideo production arm for image films, social-media clips and live event streaming. The digital offering extends the station's local Brandenburg programme and video production to audiences beyond the terrestrial footprint.

The Cradle of German Broadcasting

Königs Wusterhausen is the cradle of German radio: on 22 December 1920 the first speech and music transmission in Germany was broadcast from the Funkerberg — long before regular broadcasting began — under the direction of Hans Bredow, the "father of German radio". When the local station launched on 1 September 2005 as Sender KW, broadcasting live from Königs Wusterhausen and the Rauensche Berge with Maria McKee's "Show Me Heaven" as the first song, it was planting its flag on historic ground. On 29 November 2011 the Lübben transmitter was added and the station became HitRadio SKW; the operator is the Radio Königs Wusterhausen GmbH. Since summer 2014 the studio has been at Karl-Marx-Straße in Wildau, just north of the old town.

From Sender KW to radioSKW

A relaunch in 2011 under managing director Thomas Fiedler gave the station a stronger identity as the local radio of the southern Berlin surroundings, serving the districts Dahme-Spreewald, Oder-Spree and Märkisch-Oderland — "total lokal in Brandenburg". The 16th anniversary in 2021 brought a soft relaunch that changed the brand to "radioSKW" with a new programme, while the slogan "Total lokal in Brandenburg" remained. The 2023 programme is a soft AC format for a core audience of 25–49, with regional and local news from LDS, LOS and MOL plus entertainment and service elements — a full local programme for the south-eastern commuter belt around Berlin.

The Video Expansion

HitRadio SKW is more than radio: in May 2021 the station took over the video division KWtv, which has been producing TV-style reports since 2023 under the name SKWvideo. The combination of local radio and local video makes the Wildau operation a genuine local media house for the region — local news on the air and on screen, from the Funkerberg's home town to the Spreewald.

From Sender KW to radioSKW

The station appeared on 1 September 2005 as "Sender KW", using the transmitters of Königs Wusterhausen and the Rauensche Berge. After a short moderation, Maria McKee's "Show Me Heaven" opened the first live broadcast — and the launch succeeded. On 29 November 2011 the station added the Lübben transmitter and took the name HitRadio SKW. With the change of managing director to Thomas Fiedler (formerly Gayk), a relaunch followed in December 2011: under the new name HITRADIO SKW the region — the districts of Dahme-Spreewald (LDS), Oder-Spree (LOS) and Märkisch-Oderland (MOL) — was steadily supplied with good music. The slogan: "Total lokal in Brandenburg" ("Totally local in Brandenburg"). In summer 2014 the station moved into its current premises in Wildau, on Karl-Marx-Straße not far from Wildau station. In May 2021 radioSKW also took over the management of the regional television station KWtv, adding production and broadcast of video clips, image and information films and livestreaming of events. For its 16th birthday in 2021 came another modernisation with a soft relaunch and renaming to "radioSKW". The owner is Radio Königs Wusterhausen GmbH; the station broadcasts on FM 105.1, DAB+, cable, satellite and livestream.

Where German Broadcasting Began

Königs Wusterhausen is where public broadcasting in Germany began — a heritage the station proudly recounts. The Funkstation on the Funkerberg, used for military transmission experiments until the First World War, came into the possession of the Deutsche Reichspost in 1919; in 1920 a Christmas concert with instrumental music was broadcast for the first time, finding listeners in Germany's neighbouring countries (there were no reactions from Germany itself, since listening to radio required a permit). From 1923, regular public broadcasting with news and entertainment over longwave began; numerous masts were erected on the Funkerberg and in Zeesen, of which only Mast 17 remains today. The Deutschlandsender ceased operations in 1995 and 1997. Broadcasting from the cradle of German radio, radioSKW positions itself as the thoroughly local voice for the region south-east of Berlin — between the capital's big-city stations and the statewide Brandenburg programmes.

Maria McKee's "Show Me Heaven": The First Live Broadcast

The station's own media data tell the founding story: on 1 September 2005, after a short moderation, Maria McKee's "Show Me Heaven" opened the first live broadcast — the start of Sender KW had succeeded. Broadcasting from the transmitters of Königs Wusterhausen and the Rauensche Berge, the station developed steadily through ups and downs. With the change of management to Thomas Fiedler came a relaunch in December 2011: under the new name HitRadio SKW, the region with the districts of LDS, LOS and MOL was steadily supplied with good music — "Total lokal in Brandenburg!" (totally local in Brandenburg). In summer 2014 the station moved to its current rooms in Wildau, on Karl-Marx-Straße not far from Wildau station. In May 2021 radioSKW also took over the management of the regional television station KWtv, so that video clips, image and info films and event livestreaming became possible. For its 16th broadcasting birthday in 2021 a modernisation with a soft relaunch and renaming to radioSKW followed.

Where German Broadcasting Began

The station's name and location are inseparable from radio history: the development of public broadcasting in Germany began in Königs Wusterhausen. The radio station on the Funkerberg — used for military transmission attempts until the First World War, then taken over by the Deutsche Reichspost in 1919 — transmitted a Christmas concert with instrumental music for the first time on 22 December 1920, finding an audience among private listeners in Germany's neighbouring countries. From 1923 public, licence-free broadcasting began with news and entertainment over longwave transmitters; numerous transmission masts were erected on the Funkerberg and in Zeesen, of which only Mast 17 survives today. The DEUTSCHLANDSENDER ceased operation in 1995/1997. A local station carrying the name of the cradle of German broadcasting: radioSKW's slogan says it all — totally local in Brandenburg.