Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation
Encyclopedia
The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation ) or CyBC (ΡΙΚ, KRYK) is Cyprus
's 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 was partly funded by a tax
added to electricity bills. The amount paid depended on the size of the home. As it was a hypothecated tax
for public television, it was 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 Association
(CBA).
The First Television broadcast began on the 1st October 1957 it operated 5 days a week averaging daily broadcasts of 3 hours. The service covered a radius of 20 miles from Nicosia.
On the 1st January 1959 the CBS ceased to be a government department and was renamed the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation under "The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation Act 300A".
CyBC was admitted as an associate member of the European Broadcasting Union on 1 January 1964 and became an active member five years later.
CyBC operates 2 domestic channels (PIK1 & PIK2) and an international service (PIK Sat) that is directed at the Cypriot diaspora:
. It also airs political, financial, social and cultural programmes as well as the latest sports news.
Among its programmes are documentaries and feature films, series based on actual events and acclaimed literature, operas, concerts, ballets, theatre performances and culture programmes.
RIK Sat is the international network of RIK TV that broadcasts RIK programming to audiences in Europe. It is currently available as an FTA service in Europe. In May 2011, it officially launched in North America as a pay service via the Home2US
platform. RIK Sat currently operates on a 24 hour schedule.
and CyBC HD.
Since the 27th of June 1999 CyBC has also transmitted 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.
The First Programme transmits at 963, 693, 558 kHz on AM and 97.2, 90.2, 93.3 and 91.4 MHz on FM
for the Armenians
(17.00-18.00) and English for foreign visitors and permanent non-Greek-speaking residents (18.00-06.00).
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 information on national issues and promoting 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.
The Second Programme transmits at 91.1, 94.2 and 97.9 MHz FM. It is streamed online at www.cybc.com.cy and is also available to 70% of the population on the Cyprus national digital TV multiplex as 'Deftero Programma'. The station can also be heard on Hellas-Sat
in Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
immigrants in Germany
, the United Kingdom a.
.
, which is also used for BBC World Service
programming for the area.
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
's public broadcasting
Public broadcasting
Public broadcasting includes radio, television and other electronic media outlets whose primary mission is public service. Public broadcasters receive funding from diverse sources including license fees, individual contributions, public financing and commercial financing.Public broadcasting may be...
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 was partly funded by a tax
Tax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
added to electricity bills. The amount paid depended on the size of the home. As it was a hypothecated tax
Hypothecation (taxation)
The hypothecation of a tax is the dedication of the revenue from a specific tax for a particular expenditure purpose. Hypothecation is the pledging of assets....
for public television, it was very similar in principle to the television licence
Television licence
A television licence is an official licence required in many countries for the reception of television broadcasts...
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
European Broadcasting Union
The European Broadcasting Union is a confederation of 74 broadcasting organisations from 56 countries, and 49 associate broadcasters from a further 25...
(EBU), the Broadcasting Organisation of Non-Aligned Countries (BONAC) and the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association
Commonwealth Broadcasting Association
Founded in 1945, the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association is a representative body for public service broadcasters throughout the Commonwealth. A not-for-profit non-government organisation, the CBA is funded by subscriptions from 102 members and affiliates from 53 countries...
(CBA).
History
The Cyprus Broadcasting Service commenced radiobroadcasts at 17.00pm on Sunday the 4th October 1953. Programmes where broadcast in Greek, Turkish and English. Transmission was on medium wave 434 and 495 metres. The station produced a weekly publication called "Radio Cyprus" and was available free.The First Television broadcast began on the 1st October 1957 it operated 5 days a week averaging daily broadcasts of 3 hours. The service covered a radius of 20 miles from Nicosia.
On the 1st January 1959 the CBS ceased to be a government department and was renamed the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation under "The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation Act 300A".
CyBC was admitted as an associate member of the European Broadcasting Union on 1 January 1964 and became an active member five years later.
Television
CyBC operates 2 domestic channels (PIK1 & PIK2) and an international service (PIK Sat) that is directed at the Cypriot diaspora:
CyBC 1
CyBC 1 (also RIK 1) features news and current affairs programming, including news bulletins, in GreekGreek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
. It also airs political, financial, social and cultural programmes as well as the latest sports news.
Among its programmes are documentaries and feature films, series based on actual events and acclaimed literature, operas, concerts, ballets, theatre performances and culture programmes.
CyBC 2
CyBC 2 (also RIK 2) features primarily entertainment programming including Cypriot and foreign series, high quality feature films, Cypriot and foreign television movies, music and children's programmes. It also transmits news in Greek, Turkish and English. Since 1st February 1992, PIK2 has carried a daily re-broadcast of part of the Euronews programme (approximately 80 hours per week).RIK Sat
RIK Sat is the international network of RIK TV that broadcasts RIK programming to audiences in Europe. It is currently available as an FTA service in Europe. In May 2011, it officially launched in North America as a pay service via the Home2USHome2US
Home2US Communications, Inc. is an open pay TV DBS platform. They offer broadcasting services on the SES-1 satellite for ethnic viewers in the United States.-History:...
platform. RIK Sat currently operates on a 24 hour schedule.
Digital Broadcast
As of March's 2nd, CyBC entered the first phase of the Digital Transition Project (Ψηφιακή Μετάβαση) by launching the CyBC Digital Platform (Ψηφιακή Πλατφόρμα ΡΙΚ) at UHF 33 with the signal covering nearly the 70% of the island. The emission follows the DVB-T standard and the video stream is encoded in MPEG-4 AVC. It carries CyBC 1 and 2, ERT World, EuronewsEuroNews
Euronews is an international multilingual news television channel.It covers world news from what it claims to be a 'European' perspective.Criticisms are that the perspective is in fact that of the European Commission - a major and growing funder of Euronews....
and CyBC HD.
Radio
In addition to the television channels, CyBC broadcasts four radio channels. The four stations (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.First Programme
The First Channel transmits on a 24-hour basis featuring news, current affairs, education and cultural programmes. It airs programmes for children and young adults, history and tradition and programmes of classical, modern and traditional music.Since the 27th of June 1999 CyBC has also transmitted a special programme for Maronites
Maronites
Maronites , is an ethnoreligious group in the Middle East that have been historically tied with Lebanon. They derive their name from the Syriac saint Mar Maron whose followers moved to Mount Lebanon from northern Syria establishing the Maronite Church....
, titled 'The Voice of Maronites'. In addition, a special programme for the Latin community started on the 13th November 1999.
The First Programme transmits at 963, 693, 558 kHz on AM and 97.2, 90.2, 93.3 and 91.4 MHz on FM
Second Programme
This channel, known as CyBC Radio Two, transmits programmes in various languages on a 24-hour basis: in Turkish for the Turkish Cypriots (06.00-17.00), in ArmenianArmenian language
The Armenian language is an Indo-European language spoken by the Armenian people. It is the official language of the Republic of Armenia as well as in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The language is also widely spoken by Armenian communities in the Armenian diaspora...
for the Armenians
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
(17.00-18.00) and English for foreign visitors and permanent non-Greek-speaking residents (18.00-06.00).
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 information on national issues and promoting 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.
The Second Programme transmits at 91.1, 94.2 and 97.9 MHz FM. It is streamed online at www.cybc.com.cy and is also available to 70% of the population on the Cyprus national digital TV multiplex as 'Deftero Programma'. The station can also be heard on Hellas-Sat
Hellas-Sat
Hellas-Sat Consortium Limited is the owner and a wholesaler of capacity and services of the Greek/Cypriot "Hellas-Sat-2" satellite, an Astrium Eurostar E2000+, which was launched successfully on 13 May, 2003 to the 39° E orbital position in the Geostationary Satellite Orbit.Hellas-Sat has...
in Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
Third Programme
The Third Radio Channel, which is the most popular network in Cyprus, acts mainly as an entertainment and information channel for listeners in Cyprus and for GreekGreeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
immigrants in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, the United Kingdom a.
Fourth Programme
The Fourth Radio Channel airs music, featuring an adult-contemporary format. It is similar to BBC Radio 1BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
.
External Service
CyBC Greek-language programming is also available for Greek Cypriot expatriates in the UK through SW, on the weekends. It uses a transmitter, operated by VT CommunicationsVT Communications
VT Communications was a part of VT Group plc. VT Communications was essentially the company formed from the privatisation of the BBC World Service transmitter sites. It was initially named Merlin Communications, then, after acquisition by VT, VT Merlin Communications...
, which is also used for BBC World Service
BBC World Service
The BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
programming for the area.