Radio 3 (Spanish radio station)

Radio 3 is a Spanish free-to-air radio station owned and operated by Radio Nacional de España (RNE), the radio division of state-owned public broadcaster Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE). It is the corporation's third radio station, and is known for broadcasting indie, alternative, hip hop and dance music.

Radio 3

Logo used since 2012
Spain
Broadcast area	Spain (FM, DAB, DVB-T and Satellite) Andorra
Programming
Language(s)	Spanish
Format	Non-mainstream contemporary music and cultural programs
Network	RNE
Ownership
Owner	RTVE
Operator	Tomás Fernando Flores (director since 2012)
Sister stations	Radio Nacional Radio Clásica Ràdio 4 Radio 5 Radio Exterior
History
First air date	12 October 1952 (12 October 1952) (Programa Cultural de RNE en OM) 1 July 1979 (1 July 1979) (programming block) 1981 (1981) (nationwide launch)
Former names	El Tercer Programa (1967–81)
Links
Webcast	Listen live, rtve play radio
Website	rtve.es/radio/radio3/

Radio 3 traces its origins to the Programa Cultural de RNE en OM which was originally launched on 12 October 1952 as a cultural radio station broadcasting only in Madrid and surrounding areas. In 1967, the Programa Cultural was renamed as "El Tercer Programa" (The Third Programme) and began to cooperate with Segundo Programa de RNE on certain programming. Radio 3 later came into being as a nighttime programming block of El Tercer Programa in 1979 and was then renamed as such in 1981, when a new nationwide radio station was created from the ashes of the old El Tercer Programa. It attracts half a million listeners per week.

Its output mostly centres on indie, alternative, hip hop and dance music that is outside the mainstream scene and the top 40 charts. Additionally, Radio 3 airs other music genres that does not air on commercial radio such as Spanish folk music, flamenco, hip hop, jazz, country, blues, Brazilian music, heavy metal, and new-age music.