Mega Channel
Encyclopedia
Mega Channel, also known as Mega TV or just Mega, is a major television network in Greece
. Teletypos S.A. was founded in 1989 under the name Teletypos Television Programmes S.A. and the trade name "MEGA CHANNEL." It was the first private television station in Greece, launched on air in November 20, 1989.
Mega's programming consists mainly of Greek programmes such as comedies, dramas, news, current affairs and entertainment shows. In recent years, Mega Channel has overtaken its main rival ANT1
as the most popular channel in Greece, largely due to hit shows like 50-50, Sto Para Pente
' and Savvatogennimenes.
Mega Channel studios are located on Mesogeion Avenue in Athens
. It was previously located in the town of Paeania, Attiki.
, Hara Makristathi & Giorgos Papadimitrakis.
, hosted by Grigoris Arnaoutoglou
. (2010 - today)
- Greek version of popular British reality cooking competition, hosted by Eugenia Manolidou. Season 2 premieres in 2012 and it will be hosted by Maria Synatsaki.
- Greek version of popular British reality cooking competition, hosted by Maria Mpekatorou. Season 1 premieres in fall 2011.
Piso sto Spiti (Back to home), family comedy Einai makria akomi Mpampastroumf? (Is it Far Yet Mpampatroumf?), teen comedy Vasiliades (Kings), new daily family comedy. Premieres in 2012 Peninta-Peninta (50-50), comedy now in its fourth season I Zoi tis allis (The life of the other), soap opera now in its third season, based on the Mexican series Querida Enemiga (Beloved Enemy) Patty, i pio omorfi istoria
(Patty, the most beautiful story, original title Patito Feo), Argentinian teen comedy/drama Ta Mystika Tis Edem (The secrets of Eden), soap opera now in its fourth season
Previously aired
(The island), drama based on the best-selling book The Island
Oyk An Lavis Para Tou Mi Exontos(You can not take from someone who does not have),satirical animation comedy
2001/2002 season: Ραντεβού στο Mega (Rendezvous on Mega)
2002/2003 season: Meg & Ega
2003/2004 season: Meg & Ega
2004/2005 season: I love TV
2005/2006 season: Megalicious
2006/2007 season: Megalicious
2007/2008 season: Megalicious
2008/2009 season: Megalicious
2009/2010 (September 2009 - February 2010) season: Tο Mega είναι 20 (Mega is 20)
2009/2010 (15/02/2010): Mega mou (My Mega)
2010/2011 season: Mega mou (My Mega)
cat
and a dog
respectively) which appear frequently in the TV station's idents, especially at Christmas, Easter or summer, can be considered the mascots of the station. The old Mega Channel logo
consisted of 10 or 12 multicolored lines, with MEGA in the middle and sometimes channel located at the bottom. The colors started from yellow, golden yellow, gold, mandarin, slightly orange (on either side), orange-rose, orange-pink, rose and pink.
, Africa
, Asia
and Australia
. The channel first started broadcasting in 2000 but was taken off the air in Australia sometime later due to contractual problems. As of late 2005, MEGA Cosmos is now once again available in Australia, Asia and Africa thanks to a new deal signed with UBI World TV
, a satellite platform that broadcasts mainly foreign programming. On December 1, 2006 MEGA Cosmos moved from the Dish Network
platform to DirecTV
, in the United States
. On April 1, 2011 MEGA Cosmos moved to Home2US
from DirecTV
.
In October 2007, the channel
began broadcasting in Canada
through Ethnic Channels Group
on Rogers Cable
, Bell TV and NEXTV
(IPTV provider). It was originally available in Canada between 2001-2003 via Odyssey Television Network but a contractual dispute in the summer of 2003 resulted in the removal of MEGA Cosmos programming from the Canadian airwaves. After a 4 year absence, a deal was struck with Ethnic Channels Group in 2007 to bring the channel back to Canada.
Former participations:
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. Teletypos S.A. was founded in 1989 under the name Teletypos Television Programmes S.A. and the trade name "MEGA CHANNEL." It was the first private television station in Greece, launched on air in November 20, 1989.
Mega's programming consists mainly of Greek programmes such as comedies, dramas, news, current affairs and entertainment shows. In recent years, Mega Channel has overtaken its main rival ANT1
ANT1
Antenna, better known as ANT1, is a television network airing in Greece and Cyprus. The alternate spelling is play on words in Greek; ena is the Greek number 1, thus ANT1 is pronounced the same as Antenna . It launched on 31 December 1989, the same year as rival Mega Channel, and is owned by...
as the most popular channel in Greece, largely due to hit shows like 50-50, Sto Para Pente
Sto Para Pente
Sto Para Pente , was a popular Greek comedy-drama television series, which was broadcast on Mega Channel for two seasons, from September 27, 2005 until June 18, 2007....
' and Savvatogennimenes.
Mega Channel studios are located on Mesogeion Avenue in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
. It was previously located in the town of Paeania, Attiki.
History
- November 20, 1989: Mega Channel went to air and the first program was broadcast.
- 1994: Mega became the first Medium to list its shares in the Main Market of the Athens Stock Exchange, while at the same time, it established the first cable television company in Greece, under the name "Multichoice Hellas SA," in which it participated with 42%, along with Myriad Development (51%) and Lumiere (7%).
- Late 1990s: Mega's website (megatv.com) was launched.
- Late 1990s: Mega became the sole broadcaster of the UEFAUEFAThe Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
soccer matches and draws. - 1997: Mega was ranked first in prime time (21:00-23:59) ratings with 27,4%. Cable TV had 250.000 subscribers.
- 1999-2000: Mega Channel changes its logo and programming after ten years since the channel's first air date.
- 2000: August, Teletypos SA founded Teletypos Cyprus Ltd, whose objective is the purchase and sale of programmes and technical know-how in the Cypriot and Middle East markets
- 2000-2001: Mega Channel launches their international network in North America on channel 602 on Dish NetworkDish NetworkDish Network Corporation is the second largest pay TV provider in the United States, providing direct broadcast satellite service—including satellite television, audio programming, and interactive television services—to 14.337 million commercial and residential customers in the United States. Dish...
and in Australia. - April or May 2001: Mega signs contract with its journalist to keep reporting, during a strike which affected other channels of broadcasting news bulletins on hold, for a couple of days. There have been several general strikes which caused Mega and other channels stopped broadcasting bulletins and other programming for one day.
- September 2002: Mega introduces Meg and Ega (its mascots) to its network.
- November 26, 2003: Another journalist strike cripples the Mega News broadcasts.
- 2003: June, Teletypos SA transferred to its 100% subsidiary Teletypos Cyprus Ltd, 33% of the company Multichoice Hellas SA
- 2004: Teletypos S.A. sold 7% of its participation in Multichoice Hellas S.A.and exchanged the remaining 35% with a 12.5% participation in the Dutch cable television company NETMED NV
- October, The slogan changed to I Love TV, the love is in a form of the symbol as I♡TV.
- Late 2005: Mega Cosmos returns to AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and Asia - Africa after a 5 year absence through UBI World TVUBI World TVUBI World TV is an Australian digital satellite pay television service that broadcasts predominantly ethnic channels. It launched in late 2004 and currently offers over 80 channels in its lineup from over 20 countries in over 12 languages.The company also provides entertainment and information...
. - 2005-2007: Mega launched a sitcom called Sto Para PenteSto Para PenteSto Para Pente , was a popular Greek comedy-drama television series, which was broadcast on Mega Channel for two seasons, from September 27, 2005 until June 18, 2007....
that would outmarch every other comedy show ever broadcast in Greece and would become one of the most popular shows in Greek television history. The show concluded at its second season.. - 2005/2006: Mega changed their slogan to "Megalicious".
- Late 2006: Mega Cosmos in the U.S. moves from Dish NetworkDish NetworkDish Network Corporation is the second largest pay TV provider in the United States, providing direct broadcast satellite service—including satellite television, audio programming, and interactive television services—to 14.337 million commercial and residential customers in the United States. Dish...
to rival DTH provider DirecTVDirecTVDirecTV is an American direct broadcast satellite service provider and broadcaster based in El Segundo, California. Its satellite service, launched on June 17, 1994, transmits digital satellite television and audio to households in the United States, Latin America, and the Anglophone Caribbean. ...
. - October 2007: Mega Cosmos returns to CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
after a 4 year absence through Ethnic Channels GroupEthnic Channels GroupEthnic Channels Group is a Canadian television broadcasting, distribution and communications company, specializing in multicultural television channels for the Canadian and American markets. ECG has been in operation since 2004 and is owned by Slava Levin....
; its available on Rogers CableRogers CableRogers Cable Inc., a subsidiary of Rogers Communications Inc., is Canada's largest cable television service provider with about 2.25 million television customers, and over 930,000 Internet subscribers, in Manitoba, Southern & Eastern Ontario, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador.The...
& Bell TV. - 2008: Mega Cosmos debuts in New Zealand via UBI World TVUBI World TVUBI World TV is an Australian digital satellite pay television service that broadcasts predominantly ethnic channels. It launched in late 2004 and currently offers over 80 channels in its lineup from over 20 countries in over 12 languages.The company also provides entertainment and information...
. - 2008-2009: "Mega Gegonota", the news bulletin of the channel, tops AGBAGBAGB may refer to:* Adjustable gastric band* Asymptotic giant branch, a category of stars* Game Boy Advance, from its official product code* Augsburg airport, Augsburg, Germany* Alexander Graham Bell, Scottish inventor* Amerika-Gedenkbibliothek...
ratings.. - 2011: Mega changes its logo after ten years.
Programming
Current shows include:Katerina Stikoudi
Katerina Stikoudi won the 2005 title "Miss Hellas" at the Miss Star Hellas pageant and had the chance to represent Greece at the Miss World pageant....
, Hara Makristathi & Giorgos Papadimitrakis.
The Million Pound Drop
The Million Pound Drop Live is a BAFTA-winning quiz show which broadcasts live on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom. The show began in May 2010 with Davina McCall having presented the show's five series to date...
, hosted by Grigoris Arnaoutoglou
Grigoris Arnaoutoglou
Grigoris Arnaoutoglou , also spelled as Gregory or Gregoris Arnaoutoglou, is a Greek television host. Since 2003, he was the host of Mega Channel's morning daily entertaining show, Omorfos Kosmos to proi...
. (2010 - today)
MasterChef Greece
MasterChef Greece is a Greek competitive cooking game show. It is an adaptation of the British show MasterChef. The first season premiered in October 3, 2010 and ended on December 28, 2010...
- Greek version of popular British reality cooking competition, hosted by Eugenia Manolidou. Season 2 premieres in 2012 and it will be hosted by Maria Synatsaki.
Junior MasterChef
Junior MasterChef is a British game show in which ten to twelve year olds must compete to be crowned Junior MasterChef. It began on BBC One on 10 May 2010. it is a spin-off from the television series MasterChef...
- Greek version of popular British reality cooking competition, hosted by Maria Mpekatorou. Season 1 premieres in fall 2011.
Television Series
Current lineupMy Name Is Earl
My Name Is Earl is an American television comedy series created by Greg Garcia that was originally broadcast on the NBC television network from September 20, 2005, to May 14, 2009, in the United States...
Piso sto Spiti (Back to home), family comedy Einai makria akomi Mpampastroumf? (Is it Far Yet Mpampatroumf?), teen comedy Vasiliades (Kings), new daily family comedy. Premieres in 2012 Peninta-Peninta (50-50), comedy now in its fourth season I Zoi tis allis (The life of the other), soap opera now in its third season, based on the Mexican series Querida Enemiga (Beloved Enemy) Patty, i pio omorfi istoria
Patito Feo
Patito Feo is a comedy TV series for kids and teens from Argentina, starring Laura Natalia Esquivel, Brenda Asnicar, Juan Darthes, Griselda Sicilliani and Gastón Soffritti produced by Ideas del Sur for Canal 13...
(Patty, the most beautiful story, original title Patito Feo), Argentinian teen comedy/drama Ta Mystika Tis Edem (The secrets of Eden), soap opera now in its fourth season
Previously aired
To Nisi
To Nisi is a Greek television series based on the best-selling English novel The Island by Victoria Hislop airing on Mega Channel. The series premiered on 11 October 2010 to record ratings and critical acclaim...
(The island), drama based on the best-selling book The Island
The Island (2005 novel)
The Island is a historical novel written by Victoria Hislop. It has won several awards including Newcomer of the Year at the 2007 British Book Awards...
Oyk An Lavis Para Tou Mi Exontos(You can not take from someone who does not have),satirical animation comedy
Slogans
- 2000/2001 season: Ραντεβού στο Mega (Rendezvous on Mega)
Logo and Copyrights
From 2005, many clips aired, all with the slogan "Megalicious". In 2005-2007 were in-studio and from 2007 are live action. The previous Mega channel logo consisted of the text 'MEGA', with 'ME' widened to the left and 'GA' widened to the right. "Meg" and "Ega" (a computer-generated imageryComputer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
cat
Cat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
and a dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
respectively) which appear frequently in the TV station's idents, especially at Christmas, Easter or summer, can be considered the mascots of the station. The old Mega Channel logo
Logo
A logo is a graphic mark or emblem commonly used by commercial enterprises, organizations and even individuals to aid and promote instant public recognition...
consisted of 10 or 12 multicolored lines, with MEGA in the middle and sometimes channel located at the bottom. The colors started from yellow, golden yellow, gold, mandarin, slightly orange (on either side), orange-rose, orange-pink, rose and pink.
MEGA Cosmos
MEGA Cosmos is the international network of Mega Channel that broadcasts the 'best of Mega' programming to Greeks abroad in North AmericaNorth America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The channel first started broadcasting in 2000 but was taken off the air in Australia sometime later due to contractual problems. As of late 2005, MEGA Cosmos is now once again available in Australia, Asia and Africa thanks to a new deal signed with UBI World TV
UBI World TV
UBI World TV is an Australian digital satellite pay television service that broadcasts predominantly ethnic channels. It launched in late 2004 and currently offers over 80 channels in its lineup from over 20 countries in over 12 languages.The company also provides entertainment and information...
, a satellite platform that broadcasts mainly foreign programming. On December 1, 2006 MEGA Cosmos moved from the Dish Network
Dish Network
Dish Network Corporation is the second largest pay TV provider in the United States, providing direct broadcast satellite service—including satellite television, audio programming, and interactive television services—to 14.337 million commercial and residential customers in the United States. Dish...
platform to DirecTV
DirecTV
DirecTV is an American direct broadcast satellite service provider and broadcaster based in El Segundo, California. Its satellite service, launched on June 17, 1994, transmits digital satellite television and audio to households in the United States, Latin America, and the Anglophone Caribbean. ...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. On April 1, 2011 MEGA Cosmos moved to Home2US
Home2US
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:...
from DirecTV
DirecTV
DirecTV is an American direct broadcast satellite service provider and broadcaster based in El Segundo, California. Its satellite service, launched on June 17, 1994, transmits digital satellite television and audio to households in the United States, Latin America, and the Anglophone Caribbean. ...
.
In October 2007, the channel
MEGA Cosmos (Canada)
MEGA Cosmos is a Canadian Category B Greek language specialty channel and is owned by Ethnic Channels Group. It broadcasts programming from MEGA Cosmos, a television channel in Greece, and local Canadian content....
began broadcasting in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
through Ethnic Channels Group
Ethnic Channels Group
Ethnic Channels Group is a Canadian television broadcasting, distribution and communications company, specializing in multicultural television channels for the Canadian and American markets. ECG has been in operation since 2004 and is owned by Slava Levin....
on Rogers Cable
Rogers Cable
Rogers Cable Inc., a subsidiary of Rogers Communications Inc., is Canada's largest cable television service provider with about 2.25 million television customers, and over 930,000 Internet subscribers, in Manitoba, Southern & Eastern Ontario, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador.The...
, Bell TV and NEXTV
NEXTV
NEXTV is a Canadian-based IPTV provider that delivers digital television services via broadband. It launched in 2007 and is owned by Ethnic Channels Group, a Canadian ethnic broadcaster...
(IPTV provider). It was originally available in Canada between 2001-2003 via Odyssey Television Network but a contractual dispute in the summer of 2003 resulted in the removal of MEGA Cosmos programming from the Canadian airwaves. After a 4 year absence, a deal was struck with Ethnic Channels Group in 2007 to bring the channel back to Canada.
Ownership
Company's shareholder structure for 28/02/2011 (Shareholders owning 2.5% and above):- Pegasus Publications S.A.: 26,82%
- Lambrakis Press S.A.: 22,11%
- BENBAY LIMITED: 5,09%
- BNP PARIBAS (SUISSE) SA:4,69%
- EFG BANK (MONACO) S.A.M.: 4,04%
- Premier Ltd: 3,49%
- Saran Holdings S.A.: 2,70%
- Tegopoulos Publications S.A.: 2,68%
Participations
- Teletypos Cyprus Ltd: 100% subsidiary (main business mainly in the purchase and sale of programmes, know-how etc. in the markets of Cyprus and the Middle East)
- LOGOS Informational and Cultural Company, Cyprus: owning 25%
- NETMED NV, dutch cable television company: 12,5%
Former participations:
- Multichoice Hellas S.A., greek cable televison company: 42%, in 2003 33% were transferred to Teletypos Cyprus but already in 2004 all 42% were exchanged with a 12.5% participation in the Dutch cable television company NETMED NV
See also
- MEGA Cosmos CanadaMEGA Cosmos (Canada)MEGA Cosmos is a Canadian Category B Greek language specialty channel and is owned by Ethnic Channels Group. It broadcasts programming from MEGA Cosmos, a television channel in Greece, and local Canadian content....
- Mega Channel CyprusMega Channel CyprusMega Channel, also known as Mega TV, was the second private television channel to launch on the Cyprus airwaves. Mega has been long dedicated to Cyprus and Greek programming, kids programs, foreign programs and church oriented programs...
- List of programs broadcast by Mega Channel
- List of Greek television channels