VOA Background

The Voice of America, which first went on the air in 1942, is a multimedia international broadcasting service funded by the U.S.  Government through the Broadcasting Board of Governors.  VOA broadcasts approximately 1,500 hours of news, information, educational, and cultural programming every week to an estimated worldwide audience of 134 million people.

Voice of America

A Trusted Source of News and Information Since 1942

Fast Facts

• Audience: 134 million weekly Budget: $194.3 million (FY 2009 estimate)
• Media: radio, television, and the Internet Headquarters: Washington, D.C.
• Languages:  45 Employees: more than 1,300
• Mission: To broadcast accurate, balanced, and comprehensive news and information to an international audience.
• Facilities: 27 radio broadcast studios, 33 production and recording studios, 30 professional audio mixing and dubbing stations, 4 television studios, 21 video editing suites, and facilities for master control, recording, scheduling, and feed intake.
• History: Broadcasts began in 1942, to get reliable news to people living in closed and war-torn societies.

VOA Broadcasts
VOA and Technology