It was exactly 55 years ago that Greek television was ‘born’ and began its official operation at the OTE building on 3 Septemvriou St.

It was 18:30 on Wednesday, 23 February 1966, when a female figure was projected on the screens of the few television receivers in the city of Athens.

“Good evening. As of today, the National Radio Foundation is introducing its new evening hours for the technical tests of the Experimental TV Transmitter.” With these words, Eleni Kypreou, the first presenter, announced the birth of Greek television.

The signal was broadcast by OTE’s transmitters, on the building, which was the tallest in Athens at the time.

OTE’s first ‘contact’ with TV had taken place.

Soon after, OTE procured a complete TV studio.

Cameras, videos, telecine, monitors, lights, microphones were initially installed in a remote broadcast van and at the OTE Tower in Thessaloniki, and later, on the 10th floor of OTE’s Toll Communications Building, there were test shows and co-productions with the then National Radio Foundation.

OTE’s participation in the launching of Television in Greece was important and substantial.

It provided know-how, human resources, buildings and machinery, supporting the broadcasting of the first television signal, and it also contributed to the promotion of major events of global interest, such as the historic satellite reception of the transmission of the first moon landing.

OTE then proceeded to support the broadcast of the television signal of the state channels in all the major broadcast centres in Greece, as well as the launching of the first private television channels.

As for OTE’s first studio, it is housed at the Museum in Nea Kifissa, to take everyone back in time, with cameras and monitors, bringing to life the black-and-white image of that “heroic” era, when television took its first steps!

“Lights, cameras ... action” – the ‘show’ is starting at the Telecommunications Museum!