Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (Ραδιοφωνικό Ίδρυμα Κύπρου) or CyBC (ΡΙΚ) is Cyprus' public broadcasting service, transmitting island-wide on four radio and two television channels. CyBC is a non-profit organization that utilises its entire income for the promotion of its main mission, which is the objective provision of information, culture and entertainment for the people of Cyprus. CyBC is partly funded by a tax added to electricity bills. The amount paid depends on the size of the home. As it is a hypothecated tax for public television, it is very similar in principle to the television licence systems that operate in many other countries.
CyBC is a member of the international broadcasting community, belonging to most major organisations including the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the Broadcasting Organisation of Non-Aligned Countries (BONAC) and the Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation (CBA).
Contents |
[edit] History
The CyBC started transmitting on radio in 1953 as the Cyprus Broadcasting Service. Television broadcasts followed three years later and it became a Corporation in 1960 when the island gained independence from Great Britain.
The first TV programme in Cyprus was transmitted during the British Colonial era, in October 1957, when the station was known as the Cyprus Radio Service. During this period, its output was limited to a three-hour transmission, twice a week. In 1959, Cyprus Broadcasting Service changed its name to Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation and since then functions as a semi-governmental organisation.
The hours and days of transmission gradually increased, and since December 1st 1968, programmes have been transmitted on a daily basis. The first televised News Bulletin was introduced in February 1968. In 1982, transmission switched from black-and-white to colour (SECAM standard system) and from September 1991 to PAL (colour standard system). A second television channel, CyBC 2, was launched in 1992, at the same time as commercial television stations began operating.
The CyBC was first linked to the Eurovision satellite in 1980 for live transmission from the Hague of the Eurovision Song Contest; they now send a participant every year. CyBC also broadcast via satellite (Hellas Sat), Eutelsat, Optus and Telstar 10 and takes part in the Eurovision Young Musicians' and Young Dancers' Contests.
Since December 1963, Turkish Cypriots no longer contribute to CyBC, and use their own broadcasting network (called BRTK, which is regarded as a pirate broadcaster by the Cyprus Government).
Satellite technology also means we are now able to broadcast programmes on CyBC's 1st and 3rd radio channels and a special television programme to the Greek speaking public in the diaspora.
CyBC caters for Cypriots living and working abroad with its satellite programmes. Locally produced programmes were originally beamed to Eutelsat 2F4 which used to live at 7°E. Frequency is 11.14GHz and the sound channel is 6.60 MHz.
This analogue transmission ceased. RIK Sat can now be found free-to-air using a suitable digital receiver, on Hellas Sat 2 at 39.0°E. Frequency is 12.524 GHz, Vertical, 30000, 5/6. South African viewers can also magically view this transmission at 11.553 GHz, Horizontal, 2933, 3/4.
[edit] Programs
See List of programs broadcast by CyBC
Live television and radio programs are an important part of the CyBC's contribution to the Cypriot public, from current affairs programs and talk shows with public phone-ins, to variety and games shows. The Corporation actively supports and promotes local writers and composers by producing television drama and comedy. It also includes in its broadcasts public information films and commercials, produced in cooperation with various ministries and other government agencies.
Foreign language broadcasts, public information film and setting up links with Cypriots abroad are just part of the Corporation's overall social contribution as a public broadcaster, whose primary role must be to provide the Cypriot public with the widest possible range of quality programmes for their information, education, cultural development and entertainment.
[edit] News
The CyBC newsroom takes daily feeds from the EBU for foreign stories to fill six television news bulletins a day, including the main half hour bulletin of the evening and news programmes in English and Turkish.
Foreign news agencies and film crews are frequent visitors to the CyBC for satellite feeds and links all over the world. We also provide foreign networks with state-of-the-art radio and television recording and tape editing facilities on site at all major international conference held on the island.
The CyBC has been a regular contributor to the CNN World Report since its inception in the late 1980s. In 1993 CyBC became a founding member of the European television news channel, Euronews, to which they send regular programme contributions. CyBC has recently installed a state-of-the-art satellite earth station. Through this it relays programmes and news footage of events in Cyprus which can then be taken up by TV stations all over Europe and, through there, the rest of the world.
[edit] Channels
[edit] Television
[edit] CyBCONE
CyBCONE (ΡΙΚΕΝΑ), the Corporation's main information channel, has a reputation as the reliable Cypriot channel which places emphasis on News Bulletins in Greek and Turkish, and on programmes covering current affairs, political, financial, social, cultural and sports news.
The provision of reliable, prompt and objective information for viewers via News and Current Affairs programmes is considered very important. At the same time, emphasis is given to educational and cultural programmes and those concerning public service.
Among its programmes are high quality documentaries and feature films, series based on actual events and acclaimed literature, operas, concerts, ballets, theatre performances and culture programmes.
CyBCONE retransmits the day's Current Affairs programmes after midnight.
[edit] CyBCTWO
CyBCTWO (ΡΙΚΔΥΟ), the Corporation's main entertainment channel, offers viewers a second choice.
Among its programmes are local productions, selected Greek and foreign series, high quality feature films, Greek and foreign television movies, music and children's programmes. It also transmits News in Greek and English. Since 1993, CyBCTWO has carried a daily rebroadcast of part of the Euronews programme (approximately 80 hours per week).
[edit] Cyprus SAT (RIK SAT)
For CyBC, the provision of reliable, prompt and objective information to the public, via News Bulletins and Current Affairs programmes, is not restricted to the geographical boundaries of Cyprus, but via its Satellite Programme extends to the countries hosting overseas Cypriots, such as Greece, Britain and the rest of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa and Asia via the Hotbird satellite in Europe, Optus B3 in Asia, Telstar 10 Satellite (Far East) and Hellas Sat in Europe and Africa.
CyBC's Satellite Programme also transmits television and theatre productions, current affairs programmes, documentaries, cultural, children's and entertainment programmes produced by CyBC. The only exception is the live transmission of the Sunday Mass from MEGA television channel.
Current Affairs programmes are retransmitted on a daily basis, so as to serve the overseas Cypriots in Britain and other countries, who, due to the time difference, cannot watch them on first transmission.
Following an agreement with Greek Television's ERT Sat Satellite Programme, the 6.00 p.m. news bulletin and weekly programmes Cyprus, 7 Days and Cyprus Review, are retransmitted by ERTsat all over the world.
[edit] Radio
In addition to the television channels, CyBC broadcasts four radio channels. The four Radio Channels (First, Second, Third and Fourth) aim to transmit quality programmes and provide information, culture and entertainment to the public, taking into consideration the needs and preferences of all the communities in Cyprus. Programmes are broadcast in various languages. They transmit on a 24-hour basis and are also available via Satellite and the Internet.
[edit] First Radio Channel
The First Channel transmits on a 24-hour basis giving emphasis on news bulletins and current affairs, education and cultural programmes. Programmes for the Cypriot National Guard and the Greek Contingent in Cyprus, messages to the enclaved, programmes for children and young adults, history and tradition and programmes of classical, modern and traditional music comprise the framework of the First Programme service to Cyprus and the whole of the Greek nation.
As from the 27th of June 1999 CyBC also transmits a special programme for Maronites, titled The Voice of Maronites. In addition, a special programme for the Latin community started on the 13th November 1999.
Τhere is also a short-wave transmission I KYPROS KONTA SAS for listeners outside Cyprus during weekends only. It is run every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 22.15-22.45 GMT and consists of special programmes for Cypriots abroad, mainly in the United Kingdom.
The First Radio Channel transmits at 963, 693, 558 KHz on AM and 97.2, 90.2, 93.3 and 91.4 MHz on FM
[edit] Second Radio Channel
The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC)-Radio Programmes transmit on 3 channels on both AM and FM. The Second Radio Channel transmits at 91.1, 92.4, 96.5 and 94.2 MHz on FM.
This channel transmits programmes in various languages on a 24-hour basis: in Turkish for the Turkish Cypriots (06.00-17.00),in Armenian for the Armenians (17.00-18.00) and English for foreign visitors and permanent non-Greek-speaking residents (18.00-24.00).
The transmission to the Turkish Cypriots aims at maintaining communication with them. Among other programmes, three news bulletins every day (at 07.30, 13.15 and 18.50). The English-speaking programmes are mainly for entertainment, music and culture, with emphasis on providing accurate information on the national issues and promoting our cultural heritage. Three English news bulletins are transmitted every day (at 13.30, 20.00 and 22.00). Other English language programmes include a live evening magazine programme and music and chat from DJ shows throughout the evening.
During the summer season there's an additional early evening programme for visitors to the island broadcast live in four European languages.
[edit] Third Radio Channel
The Third Radio Channel, known as TRITO, acts mainly as an entertainment and information channel for listeners in Cyprus and for Greek immigrants in Germany, the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe via satellite and the Internet.
Transmissions began in September 1990 on a 24-hour basis. The Third Radio Channel still holds the top rating in Cyprus.
It transmits at 603, 1044 and 918 KHz on AM and 94.8, 96.0, 99.8 and 97.9 MHz on FM.
[edit] Fourth Radio Channel
The Fourth Radio Channel is of a purely musical-easy listening content. It relayed the live broadcast of the Athens-based LOVE RADIO station, at 88.2 MHz on FM until early 2006. The station is now known as PIK 4 and relays music and sport from CyBC in Nicosia. Transmissions began in January 2002 on a 24-hour basis.
[edit] Internet
CyBC was connected to WorldWideWeb in April 1997. Visits to CyBC's website (http://www.cybc.com.cy have reached impressive numbers, and continued communication via e-mail to CyBC proves the great interest of Internet users throughout the world, who listen to and watch CyBC programmes via their personal computers.
Webcasting started with the three radio channels, followed a few months later by the live streaming of TV satellite programmes (CySAT). At present, users can watch News Bulletins (Greek, English and Turkish), sports and other Current Affairs programmes on demand, through Real Player.
[edit] See also
[edit] External link
- Official Site (Greek) (English)
