"BBC Greek Service"

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The BBC Greek Service (eng.: BBC Greek Service) was a service of the BBC World Service in Greece. It began operating in September 1939 and closed on Saturday 31 December 2005 after 66 years of operation. The service was particularly important for Greece, because during the period of Junta it was the only valid radio station in Greece. Since 1990 the Internet service has also operated.

Background
The station began broadcasting, in the short waves, shortly after the beginning of World War II, in September 1939.

The voice beginning with the characteristic phrase "Here London" was established as the BBC's Greek voice during World War II and the Occupation, as those periods the BBC was considered a valid and reliable radio station.

Too many political personalities, but also of the letters and the arts, were hosted in the years that they intervened in the BBC Hellenic Service studios. Some of them are: Archbishop Makarios, Konstantinos Karamanlis, Evangelos Averof, Nikos Kazantzakis, Giannis Tsarouchis, Mikis Theodorakis, Charles Koun, Dimitris Horn, Melina Mercouri and Maria Callas.

Later, during the junta (1967–1974), the BBC's Greek show was one of the most important sources of free, objective and independent information.

The BBC Hellenic Service stopped broadcasting on December 31, 2005, after 66 years of operation. The decision to close was taken in the context of saving money for the creation of a television station in Arabic that is aimed at countries with less freedom in the press than Greece and Cyprus. The BBC World Service argued that the BBC's Greek Service is addressed to two countries, where, unlike other European states, there is complete freedom of the press.

Last partners
The staff of the Hellenic Service were:

Director
Rosie Buddha

Director for Pension
Giannis Karavidas

Editor-in-chief
Michael Kosmidis

Authors
Doxa Sivropoulou
Meta Chicric
Maria Kastrisianaki
Irini Ruboglou
Tasos Kokkinidis
George Felidis
Marilena Kafouru
Lena Hurmuzi
Thanasis Gavos
Anger Babatsas
Winner Ryanos

Contact Person
Nagia Hatzipani

Administrative Support
Mary Kurkjan

Technical Support
Penny Papadopoulou
Winner Patrician

Correspondent
Belgrade: Nikos Pelpas
Berlin: Pantelis Valasopoulos
Brussels: George Daratos
Jerusalem: All Grace
Istanbul: Aris Hatzistefanou
Nicosia: Paris Potamitis
London: Giannis Darras
Moscow: Thanasis Avgerinos
New York: Thanasis Chitsas
Washington: Dimitris Apokis
Paris: Maria Deaxa
Sydney: George Diamantoulis
Skopje: Nikos Frangopoulos
Sofia: Boyko Borisov
Strasbourg: Thanasis Kalfas
Tirana: Ilir Pacho

References

External links
Official Website

British Broadcasting Corporation
BBC World Service
Inactive Greek radio stations
Greek-British