ANT1

Infobox Network
network_name = ANT1
network_
country = Greece
network_type = Broadcast
available = National: International via satellite
owner = ANT1 Group
key_people =
launch_date = 31 December 1989
founder = Minos Kiriakou
slogan =
motto =
past_names =
website = [http://www.antenna.gr/ www.antenna.gr]

Antenna, better known as ANT1, is a popular television station in Greece. It is pronounced "Ant-énna" because of the Greek word for "Antenna" (Αντέννα) meaning aerial and "ena" (ένα) for the number 1. It launched on December 31, 1989, the same year as rival MEGA and is owned by ANT1 Group. ANT1 has been the most popular network in Greece for years with its line up of hit series including popular dramas "Lampsi" and "Kalimera Zoi". Recently however, MEGA has overtaken ANT1 as the most popular network. Programming consists of comedies, dramas, news, current affairs programs, gameshows and entertainment shows.

The first broadcast came on New Year's Eve 1989. One of the concept executive producers has been Nico Mastorakis who brought with him several original (for the Greek viewers) ideas after his stay in the USA. Programs like Wheel of Fortune (Greek version), and "Oi Men Kai Oi Den" were immediately among the top 10 shows in Greece. Cartoons are offered in the morning. Most of them are shown in the Greek language. Today they are offered only on Weekend mornings, while news-magazine and lifestyle programs such as "Studio me Thea" are now shown on the weekends.

Antenna also runs Antenna FM Athens, which also broadcasts nationally, Rythmos FM (a local pop music radio station in Athens) as well as international networks Antenna Satellite (North America), Antenna Pacific (Australia) and Antenna Europe (Europe, outside of the balkans) which broadcast the "best of ANT1" programming to audiences abroad. ANT1 recently launched a digital channel- Antenna Gold, that airs programming from Antenna's programming library including many #1 hit shows. It airs on Nova, Greece's Digital Satellite platform as well as in North America on Dish Network. It also owns a stake in Macedonia TV, a TV station with national coverage in Greece, based out of Thessaloniki, and Antenna FM Thessaloniki, a radio station in Thessaloniki.

Programs that were once shown on ANT1 were CBS Evening News from America. ANT1 Satellite News was also shown until the late 1990s.

A 30-second commercial, which is shown only on ANT1, and sometimes Star Channel shows all the guide to Greece's beaches.

Its station is located in an Athens suburb of Maroussi. Its main Athens transmission tower is on Mount Hymettus. The station is broadcast terrestrially via a network of repeaters throughout all of Greece and Cyprus.

Programming

Current Shows include:

*"Allaxate Geuseis" - Cooking show with Alexandros Papandreou

*"Analyse To" - Informative program that helps individuals with their personal problems. From phobias, to stress & depression to insecurities, psychologist Sandy Koutsostamati discusses issues that many people in society face and gives practical advice on dealing with these problems. Airs weekdays at 6:05pm.

*"Apodexeis" - Investigative reports from 40 undercover reporters who find employment in various places then report back about their experiences. Hosted by famed Journalist Nikos Evangelatos, airs Wednesdays at 11:50pm. "(Previously on Alpha TV)"

*"Deal" - gameshow, Greek version of international sensation Deal or No Deal, hosted by Christos Ferentinos

*"Erotas" (Love/Eros) - the current ANT1 soap opera, replacing Kalimera Zoi and Lampsi which both ended their runs recently after many years on the air. Airs weekdays at 7pm.

* "Kalimera Ellada" - Morning show with news, entertainment and more, airing Monday - Friday at 6:15am. The star of the show, which is in its 15th year, is long-time host George Papadakis.

*"Kalomeleta Kai Erhete" - Weekend morning show, informative and entertaining, Reporters travel to all around Greece, meeting the people, learning about the area and its history. Hosted by Sofia Aliberti & Mihalis Marinos, airs Saturday & Sunday at 10am.

* "Proinos Kafes" - Entertainment show that has been on the air for nearly a decade, features entertainment, music and more. It was hosted by Eleni Menegaki until 2005 but is now hosted by Eleonora Meleti. Airs Monday - Friday at 10am.

* "Studio Me Thea" - Morning show for the Weekend. It features news, sports, current affairs and more. Studio Me Thea is now in its 7th year. Hosted by Spiros Haritatos and Evi Fragaki, airs Saturday & Sunday at 6:30am.

* "Ta Nea tou ANT1" - Daily newscast in Greek featuring news from Greece and around the world. Airs daily at 1pm, 6pm (update), 8 pm (main newscast hosted by Nikos Evangelatos) and 2:15am.

* Prison Break - The famous American television series premiered on January 2, 2008 at 23:00 and is airing Tuesday-Friday.

History

*1986/1987 - Construction of Antenna TV station begun. Construction continued until Antenna began operations of satellite. Signals were being put all over the country.

*1989 - Antenna began operation of broadcasting in Greece.

*Early to mid 1990s - Antenna began launching ANT1 in Cyprus, ANT1 Satellite for North American viewers, and ANT1 Pacific in Australia. The broadcasting hour was short and was broadcast 8 hours live (7:00pm EAST to 3:00am EAST), and reruns from 9am EAST to 5pm EAST until 1999. HRT from the Croatian Information Centre was also broadcast on the same channel.

*1992 - Kalimera Ellada (Good Morning Greece) was launched as the first morning show in Greece.

*1992/1993 - Lampsis and Kalimera Zoi passes the 1000th episode milestone.

*Mid 1990s - Antenna and Skai (Sky) now Alpha-TV were the number one channels as indicated in some commercials The ANT1 slogan ("ANT1 noúmero éna") was used until 1999 after their ratings were #1 in Hellenic speaking television. Some programs throughout the 1990s were being number one.

*1996 - antenna.gr hit the worldwide web, some prefer antenna.com.gr.

*1996 - ANT1 satellite begins broadcasting on channel 604 on Dish Network in America (USA); see Dish Network and EchoStar Communications Corporation for more.

*Late 1990s - Lampsis and Kalimera Zoi passes the 2000th episode milestone.

*1999 (September) - ANT1 Satellite and Pacific extended programming to 16 hours of broadcasting and also adds live news coverage.

*Late 2000 - ANT1 Satellite and Pacific begins broadcasting a 24-hour program.

*2001 - ANT1 buys NovaSat and contracted with the state/country of Bulgaria in broadcasting rules. Web forums and IRC service started during the Big Brother reality show.

*2001/2002 - Lampsis and Kalimera Zoi passes the 3000th episode milestone.

*2002 - ANT1 Profits began to fall. It started from the $15 (American) range to $1.50 in the following weeks.

*2002 - ANT1 in North America moved to channel 605 on Dish Network. ANT1 Gold is launched.

*2002 - Ratings for Ta Nea Tou ANT1 peaks at around 200,000, while Alter and Star reaches 250,000.

*2002 (September) - ANT1 changes its slogan to kainourgios kosmos (different world in English) while more shows were coming.

*2003 - Low profit means ANT1 profits listed as ANTV on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) was no longer seen on ANT1 satellite.

*2006 - Antenna launches Antenna Europe, international channel that broadcasts the 'best of Antenna' programming to major centres in Europe.

*2006 - Antenna launches Antenna Gold, Blue (music video channel), Antenna Radio Athens, Rythmos FM and Supersport FM to the North American market. All channels available on Dish Network, expansion is part of a new contract signed with Dish Network.

*2007 - Antenna Gold is removed from the channel line up on Nova due to the expiration of the agreement between "ANTENNA" and "Multichoice Hellas". Antenna Gold is no longer available to viewers in Greece.

Logos

The first ANT1 logo was colored with gold with ANT flattened 20 degrees to the right and the number 1 is bolded at size 2. At the left edges of the number 1, two lines starting from A to 1. The line at the top is short and the line at the bottom is almost long. The logo appeared at the top-left on the screen. Due to its brightness, the logo could cause burn-in on rear projection and plasma TVs. A defined image of the logo will appear permanently on the TV screen.

On September 17 2007, ANT1 launched the new pink logo which also included a new on-screen logo. The logo was more subtle and did not cause the problems mentioned above.

On September 15 2008, ANT1 dropped the pink branding and launched a new look and logo. The logo does not feature the lines above and below the word ANT1.

logans

ANT1 has had various slogans over the years, the most recent ones have been as follows:

* 2002/2003 season: "ANT1 ΝΟΥΜΕΡΟ ΕΝΑ (ΑΝΤ1 number one)"
* 2003/2004 season: "BΛΕΠΩ ANT1 (I'm watching ANT1)"
* 2004/2005 season: "Η ΖΩΗ ΘΕΛΕI ANT1 (Life wants ANT1)"
* 2005/2006 season: (part a) "ΟΛΑ ΠΑΙΖΟΥΝ (Everything's possible)"
* 2005/2006 season: (part b) "ΔΥΝΑΤΑ (Strong)"
* 2006/2007 season: "MH XANEIΣ ΣTIΓMH (Don't miss a moment)"
* 2007/2008 season: "ΒΛΕΠΕΙΣ ΚΑΛΑ. ΕΙΝΑΙ ΑΝΤ1. (You see it right. It's ANT1.)"
* 2008/2009 season: "FRESH

ANT1 Abroad

Since 1996, Antenna has broadcast its programming internationally for Greek speaking audiences abroad. Initially the broadcast was for a few hours each day but has since evolved into a full channel that operates 24hrs a day. ANT1 currently operates 3 television channels, via satellite, which vary according to the different geographical targets:

Antenna Europe - for audiences in Europe (outside of Greece)
Antenna Satellite - for audiences in North and South America
Antenna Pacific - for audiences in Australia and the Pacific Rim

ANT1 Satellite & ANT1 Pacific started broadcasting in 1996 with a very limited schedule for only a few hours a day. In 2000, both channels expanded to a full 24-hour schedule featuring the 'best of Antenna' including popular shows Lampsi, Erotas and Kalimera Zoi, news, sports and special events.

ANT1 Europe launched in early 2006 but is only available outside Greece and not in neighbouring countries such as Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania & Serbia.

ee also

*ANT1 Cyprus
*ANT1 Gold
*Blue
*Heaven Music
*List of ANT1 newscasters
*List of programs broadcast by ANT1
*Television in Greece
*List of Greek companies

External links

* [http://www.antenna.gr/ Official Site] gr icon
* [http://www.antennaeurope.gr Antenna Europe] gr icon en icon
* [http://satellite.antenna.gr Antenna Satellite] gr icon en icon
* [http://pacific.antenna.gr Antenna Pacific] gr icon en icon
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGOfpgtM51o Video from the reality show Mission broadcasted and created from Ant1 channel]