Skai TV
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| Type | Broadcast Television network Satellite television Radio |
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| Country |  Greece |
| Availability | Continental |
| Owner | Radio and Television Enterprises S.A. |
| Key people | Ioannis Alafouzos, CEO |
| Launch date | Original run:1993 - 2000 Relaunched:April 1, 2006 |
| Website www.skai.gr |
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Skai TV is a Greek TV station, based in Athens. It was relaunched in its present form on April 1st, 2006 in Athens and gradually managed to spread its coverage nationwide. Besides analog over-the-air transmission, it is also available FTA all over Europe via Hellas-Sat-2 satellite at 39°E (frequency 12524 V, SR 30000, FEC 5/6). It's also transmitted encrypted through Nova bouquet via Hotbird satellite at 13°E.
At launch, Skai TV opted for dubbing all foreign language content into Greek, instead of using subtitles. This is very uncommon in Greece for anything except documentaries and children's programmes, so after intense criticism the station switched to using subtitles for almost all foreign shows.
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[edit] Programme
Skai TV programme emphasises on entertainment and information. The station has signed programming deals with world renowned documentary broadcasters such as National Geographic Channel, Discovery Channel and the BBC and a large part of its schedule features recent and past-years documentaries. There is a Greek dubbed BBC World news bulletin following the station's own news bulletin and a news-themed morning show. Some of the most notable programmes on offer are The Oprah Winfrey Show, Doctor Who, MythBusters, Brainiac, What the Victorians Did for Us, Takeshi's Castle, Top Gear, Pimp My Ride, Punked, CSI: New York and 4400.
[edit] Technology
Skai TV has made a pioneering appearance in the airwaves, being the first non-subscription TV station worldwide to use solely digital technology thus being completely tapeless. It uses the SONAPS network broadcast system made by Sony and is considered by the latter as a showcase example of the system. Skai also use Omneon Spectrum servers for Playout together with IBIS automation.[1]
Skai TV is also the first (and currently only) station in Greece to broadcast its full programme in 16:9 format.
[edit] History
Skai TV was first launched in 1993 with emphasis in news and sports but in 1999 was sold and the new owners gradually re-branded it as Alpha TV. The new station had an entirely different programming perspective and opted for a more mainstream profile, soon managing to become one of the top three TV stations in Greece.
Original Skai TV was heavily criticized for its "yellow press" news coverage and low-budget programming. In an incident still remembered by Greek viewers[2] and later investigated by a BBC documentary, the station was unanimosly slated for its involvement (and live coverage) of a hostage situation that ended with the death of the victim.
In 2006, the company who originally launched Skai TV bought Seven TV, a holder of a Greek National broadcasting licence holder that failed to expand its coverage all over the country or attract a wide audience. The station was renamed to 'Skai TV' allowing the brand to re-emerge on the Greek television scene after 7 years, but this time the owners decided to forego their previous approach and opted for high-quality foreign shows and valid news coverage.
From 6th September 2007, Skai TV was added to the list of Greek channels available through the Nova digital platform.
[edit] External links
- Official Site (Greek)
