Skai TV (Greek: ΣΚΑΪ) is a Greek free-to-air television network based in Piraeus. It is part of the Skai Group, one of the largest media groups in the country.[1] It was relaunched in its present form on 1 April 2006 in the Athens metropolitan area, and gradually spread its coverage nationwide. Besides digitalterrestrial transmission, it is available on the subscription-based encrypted services of Nova and Cosmote TV.
Skai TV is also a member of Digea, a consortium of private television networks introducing digital terrestrial transmission in Greece. 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 programs, so after intense criticism, the station switched to using subtitles for almost all foreign shows.
Skai TV was first launched on 21 September 1993 with an emphasis on news and sports. However, on 26 September 1999, it was sold and the new owners gradually rebranded it as Alpha TV. The new station had an entirely different programming perspective and opted for a more mainstream profile. It soon became one of the top three TV stations in Greece.
On 1 April 2006, the company that originally launched Skai TV bought Seven TV, a holder of a Greek National broadcasting license 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 forgo their previous approach and opted for foreign shows and news coverage. On 6 September 2007, Skai TV was added to the lineup of NOVA Greece digital platform. On 2 March 2016, Skai TV launched its own high-definition feed. On 2 September, the network won one of four national television licenses auctioned in Greece after Iannis Alafouzos paid €43.6 million in a highly unusual competitive bidding process.[2]
Criticism
Skai TV was heavily criticized for its "yellow press" news coverage and low-budget programming. In an incident still remembered by Greek viewers and later investigated by a Channel 4documentary, the station was unanimously slated for its involvement (and live coverage) of a hostage situation that ended with the death of the victim.[3] Skai TV has been criticized by Greek socialists for allegedly promoting right-wing politics, liberal and pro-EU politics in its news reporting and political commentary, and for being essentially the mouthpiece of big business in Greece. It has also been criticized by some Greek conservative commentators for its political documentaries. Statements by various journalists of the channel such as Aris Portosalte have evoked criticism, while it has been also criticised for portraying the Mitsotakis cabinet with a very positive point of view.
Technology
Skai TV has made an appearance in international airwaves, being the first non-subscription TV station worldwide to use solely digital technology thus being completely tapeless.[citation needed] It uses the SONAPS network broadcast system made by Sony and installed by British company VSC Design. Skai also uses Harmonic Spectrum servers for Playout together with IBIS automation.
Skai TV is also the first station in Greece to broadcast its full program in 16:9 format.
Programming
Skai TV has a focus on entertainment and information. Programming includes comedies, dramas, current affairs shows, documentaries, and sports.
Foreign programs originally made up the bulk of Skai TV's schedule but in recent years it has begun producing an increasing amount of original programs which now comprise a third of the schedule. It has programming alliances with popular foreign networks including National Geographic, Discovery Channel and the BBC and a large part of its schedule features recent and past-years documentaries. There is also a Greek dubbed BBC World News news bulletin following the station's own news bulletin and a news-themed morning show.
Skai TV also shows some friendly matches of Panathinaikos FC which are not on any of the Premium Services (Either Cosmote Sport or Nova Sports).
Skai HD
The Skai broadcasts in high definition from the Cosmote TV platform and online. In August 2014, it announced that it will broadcast a new TV channel in HD on digital terrestrial television. It was expected to be launched in early-2015, but it was eventually launched on 27 February 2016.
Skai International
In 2013, Skai TV expanded its service into North America, entering into programming supply agreements with local broadcasters. It launched in the United States via a partnership with local Greek broadcaster New Greek TV, which is available on Time Warner Cable in New York.[4] On December 12, 2013, Skai launched in Canada on Bell Fibe TV via a partnership with ethnic broadcaster Ethnic Channels Group.[5] As of 2016, Skai programming is no longer available in North America.
^Όμιλος ΣΚΑΪ. Skai Group (in Greek). skai.gr. Retrieved 19 June 2009.
^"Marinakis wins Greek TV licence". Retrieved 2 September 2016.
^. archive.enet.gr. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011.
^"ΣΚΑΪ (www.skai.gr)". ΣΚΑΪ. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
^"Ethnic Channels Group launches a new Greek Channel SKAI TV on Bell Fibe!". newswire.ca. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
External links
Official Site (in Greek)
April 14, 2023
skai, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, july, 2022, learn, wh. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Skai TV news newspapers books scholar JSTOR July 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article contains wording that promotes the subject in a subjective manner without imparting real information Please remove or replace such wording and instead of making proclamations about a subject s importance use facts and attribution to demonstrate that importance June 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message Skai TV Greek SKAI is a Greek free to air television network based in Piraeus It is part of the Skai Group one of the largest media groups in the country 1 It was relaunched in its present form on 1 April 2006 in the Athens metropolitan area and gradually spread its coverage nationwide Besides digital terrestrial transmission it is available on the subscription based encrypted services of Nova and Cosmote TV Skai TVCountryGreeceBroadcast areaGreeceHeadquartersPiraeus GreeceProgrammingLanguage s GreekPicture format1080i HDTV downscaled to 16 9 576i for the SDTV feed OwnershipOwnerSkai GroupSister channelsSigma TVHistoryLaunched21 September 19931 April 2006 relaunch ReplacedSeven TV 1989 2006 Replaced byAlpha TV 1999 present LinksWebsiteSKAI TVAvailabilityTerrestrialDigeaAll over Greece at local frequenciesStreaming mediaSkai TV OnlineWatch liveSkai TV is also a member of Digea a consortium of private television networks introducing digital terrestrial transmission in Greece 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 programs so after intense criticism the station switched to using subtitles for almost all foreign shows Contents 1 History 2 Criticism 3 Technology 4 Programming 5 Skai HD 6 Skai International 7 Logos 8 See also 9 References 10 External linksHistory EditSkai TV was first launched on 21 September 1993 with an emphasis on news and sports However on 26 September 1999 it was sold and the new owners gradually rebranded it as Alpha TV The new station had an entirely different programming perspective and opted for a more mainstream profile It soon became one of the top three TV stations in Greece On 1 April 2006 the company that originally launched Skai TV bought Seven TV a holder of a Greek National broadcasting license 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 forgo their previous approach and opted for foreign shows and news coverage On 6 September 2007 Skai TV was added to the lineup of NOVA Greece digital platform On 2 March 2016 Skai TV launched its own high definition feed On 2 September the network won one of four national television licenses auctioned in Greece after Iannis Alafouzos paid 43 6 million in a highly unusual competitive bidding process 2 Criticism EditThis article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Skai TV news newspapers books scholar JSTOR November 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message Skai TV was heavily criticized for its yellow press news coverage and low budget programming In an incident still remembered by Greek viewers and later investigated by a Channel 4 documentary the station was unanimously slated for its involvement and live coverage of a hostage situation that ended with the death of the victim 3 Skai TV has been criticized by Greek socialists for allegedly promoting right wing politics liberal and pro EU politics in its news reporting and political commentary and for being essentially the mouthpiece of big business in Greece It has also been criticized by some Greek conservative commentators for its political documentaries Statements by various journalists of the channel such as Aris Portosalte have evoked criticism while it has been also criticised for portraying the Mitsotakis cabinet with a very positive point of view Technology EditSkai TV has made an appearance in international airwaves being the first non subscription TV station worldwide to use solely digital technology thus being completely tapeless citation needed It uses the SONAPS network broadcast system made by Sony and installed by British company VSC Design Skai also uses Harmonic Spectrum servers for Playout together with IBIS automation Skai TV is also the first station in Greece to broadcast its full program in 16 9 format Programming EditSkai TV has a focus on entertainment and information Programming includes comedies dramas current affairs shows documentaries and sports Foreign programs originally made up the bulk of Skai TV s schedule but in recent years it has begun producing an increasing amount of original programs which now comprise a third of the schedule It has programming alliances with popular foreign networks including National Geographic Discovery Channel and the BBC and a large part of its schedule features recent and past years documentaries There is also a Greek dubbed BBC World News news bulletin following the station s own news bulletin and a news themed morning show Skai TV also shows some friendly matches of Panathinaikos FC which are not on any of the Premium Services Either Cosmote Sport or Nova Sports Skai HD EditThe Skai broadcasts in high definition from the Cosmote TV platform and online In August 2014 it announced that it will broadcast a new TV channel in HD on digital terrestrial television It was expected to be launched in early 2015 but it was eventually launched on 27 February 2016 Skai International EditIn 2013 Skai TV expanded its service into North America entering into programming supply agreements with local broadcasters It launched in the United States via a partnership with local Greek broadcaster New Greek TV which is available on Time Warner Cable in New York 4 On December 12 2013 Skai launched in Canada on Bell Fibe TV via a partnership with ethnic broadcaster Ethnic Channels Group 5 As of 2016 Skai programming is no longer available in North America Logos Edit 1993 1998 2006 2009 2009 2018 2018 presentSee also EditSkai 100 3 Skai GroupReferences Edit Omilos SKAI Skai Group in Greek skai gr Retrieved 19 June 2009 Marinakis wins Greek TV licence Retrieved 2 September 2016 Ypo8esh Matei archive enet gr Archived from the original on 2 October 2011 SKAI www skai gr SKAI Retrieved 2 October 2016 Ethnic Channels Group launches a new Greek Channel SKAI TV on Bell Fibe newswire ca Retrieved 2 October 2016 External links EditOfficial Site in Greek Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Skai TV amp oldid 1144736323, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
