Alpha TV

Infobox Network
network_name = Alpha TV
network_
country = Greece
network_type = Broadcast
available = Worldwide via satellite
owner = Dimitris Kontominas
key_people =
launch_date = 1993
founder =
slogan =
motto =
past_names = Skai / A-Sky
website = [http://www.alphatv.gr/ www.alphatv.gr]

Alpha TV is a Greek terrestrial channel (prior to 2000: Skaï, the Greek spelling of Sky). The station features a mix of Greek and foreign shows with an emphasis on entertainment programs. The studios are located near Athens. The owner of Alpha TV is the businessman Dimitris Kontominas.

Alpha TV's logo, when the channel was called Skaï was written using Greek letters. It was Latinized and changed to a blue font in 1999, when Kontominas bought it from Ioannis Alafouzos. In September 1999 it became Alpha-Sky and later A-Sky before changing to its present name in October of the same year. The logo was retained despite the changes in the channel's name. In 2006 the name was changed again to Alpha, the first letter of the Greek alphabet, to reflect the channel's popularity, and used a similarity of Swiss font letters. This A (alpha) logo is similar to the Attiki Odos logo. The font letters in 2003 changed and a circle was added over Alpha, but the two As (alphas) remain. In 2005 a new version was introduced and is colored with red looking like the modern Adobe Logo and was updated prior to the launch of the 2007-2008 season. Ratings are now in the middle range after the introduction of Alter.

In Cyprus the public service broadcaster CyBC broadcasts a number of Alpha TV's programmes.

Programming in the 2007/8 season

News and talk shows

*"Kalimera sas (Goodmorning)", current morning show. Features discussion with in-studio guests and news from all over Greece and abroad. The show is hosted by Giorgos Aftias and Maria Nikoltsiou. Airs Monday - Friday at 5:50 to 10:00.
*"Alpha Eidiseis (Alpha News)", presented by the anchorwoman Elli Stai. Daily newscast in Greek featuring news from Greece and around the world. Airs daily at 15:00pm, 20:00 and 1:00.
*"H Mihani toy Hronou (The Time Machine)", presented by Hristos Vassilopoulos, goes back in time to explore and review several news and cases. Airs Saturdays at 14:00.
*"Persona Grata (Persona Grata)", presented by Elli Stai,

oap operas

* "An M' Agapas" (If you love me), a new series based on an Italian one. Cast members include Vana Barba, Tamila Koulieva and Giorgos Voyatzis. Airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 21:00.
* "Zoi Ksana" (Life Again), new series based on Italian Vivere. Stars include Lakis Komninos, Alekos Syssovitis, Kostas Kazakos, Anna Gerali, Marina Aslanoglou and Natalia Lionaki. Airs daily at 19:10 to 20:00

Entertainment

* "Kous Kous to Mesimeri", presented by Katerina Karavatou, featuring the latest news of the Greek show business. Airs daily at 13:00 to 16:00
* "Al Tsantiri News", a highly successful live satirical comedy show on its third season that features Lakis Lazopoulos giving 'his version' of the news. Airs Tuesdays at 21:00
* "Kafes Me Tin Eleni"- Variety show featuring entertainment as well as segments on cooking, health, astrology, lifestyle issues and more. Hosted by well-known presenter Eleni Menegaki. Airs Monday - Friday at 10:00 to 13:00
* "Aftos Mas Eleipe" (Who we've been missing) - Weekend morning show featuring a new presenting team including Andreas Mikroutsikos and his wife Dimitra Roumbessi. Expected to start September 22, airs Saturdays, Sundays at 10:00
* "TV Tiglon", a show presented by Fotis Sergoulopoulos and Maria Bakodimou. Features news, stories and celebrities from the Greek entertainment scene. Expected to air Wednesdays at Midnight.
* "Allaxe To (Change It)", the Greek version of . Hosted by Spiros Soulis. Expected to air Sundays
* "Eikones (Icons)", a travel documentary presented by Tassos Doussis. Expected to air Sundays at 1pm
* "Stars System, presented by Asi Billiou. Expected to air Sundays at 1pm
* "Η Κouzina Tis Mamas", entertaining show that seeks to teach viewers, in a fun way, about cooking and eating healthy. Host Εutuxis Bletsas travels the country visiting as many homes- and moms, as he can to find out their special tips or secret recipes and to educate everyone about how and why we should eat properly. Along the way, he gives his special tips and tricks as well as information on health and diet. Eutuxis also entertains everyone with music and singing. Airs Sundays at 13:00 (Previously aired on ET3)
* "Pame Paketo(we bring packet)",hosted by Vicky Handjivasileiou. Airs Thursdays at 21.00

Game and Reality Shows

*"TV Stars, Parousiaste!" (TV Stars, present!), a reality game show featuring a quest to find the best new presenter in Greece. Hosted by Betty Maggira and featuring Ilias Psinakis, Natalia Germanou and Kostantis Spyropoulos as judges.
* "Tha peis kai ena tragoudi"(You will say a song), a show presented by Andreas Mikroutsikos based on the American Singing bee. Airs Sundays at 21.00.

Drama series

*"Oi Istories tou Astynomou Beka" (Officer Beka's Stories)". Starring Ierocles Mihailides as Officer Bekas, the series features all the mysteries that he, along with his partners Petros (Pygmalion Dadakarides) and Angela (Penelope Anastasopoulou), tries to solve. Each mystery, featuring new cast members per story, is solved within the course of two or three episodes. Based on the book by Yannis Maris. Air dates not yet announced.

See also List of programs broadcast by Alpha TV

History

*1993 Skai TV was launched to compete with Mega Channel and ANT1 similar to ERT Channels. It began broadcasting with a heavy emphasis on news and sports. At the time, its sister station was the #1 ranked radio station in Athens, Skai 100.4 FM (then on 100.3 FM).

*1994 Skai TV began to exchange family/children's programs from Star Channel with Alpha's children's programming.

*1999 Alpha TV sold, renamed Alpha-Sky and later A-Sky during a transition period.

*2000 Renamed to Alpha TV

*2003 10th anniversary of the station

*2005 Alpha TV begins broadcast of Alpha Australia, the international network of Alpha and signs up with UBI World TV to make Alpha Australia available in Australia as well as the Asia / Pacific region

*2007 Alpha TV launches its channel Alpha Sat into North America on DirecTV

Alpha Sat / Alpha Australia

Alpha Sat / Alpha Australia are the international networks of Alpha TV that broadcasts 'the best of Alpha' thru Alpha Sat to audiences in North America and Alpha Australia for the Asia, Africa and Australia regions. The channel launched in August 2005 in Australia on UBI World TV and in May 2007 in the United States on DirecTV. Alpha Sat and Alpha Australia operate on a 24 hour schedule.

External links

* [http://www.alphatv.gr Official Site] gr icon
* [http://www.alphasat.gr Alpha Sat] en icon (Under Construction)
* [http://www.mamakouzina.tv H Kouzina Tis Mamas] gr icon