Greece’s controversial national TV licence tender has concluded with the award of four licences.
Ekathimerini reports the the unusual process, which saw representatives from eight bidding companies locked in the General Secretariat of Information from last Tuesday (August 30), ended in the early hours of Friday, September 2 when the representatives left the building saying the contest was over.
The licences have been awarded on a temporary basis, with all the winning candidates still subject to a financial inspection.
The first licence was granted to Skai, for €43 million, from a starting price of €3 million. The others went to the Toxotis construction group, owned by Yiannis Kalogritsas, for €52 million; Alter Ego, owned by Vangelis Marinakis, for €73 million; and Antenna TV, for €75.9 million.
As previously reported by Broadband TV News, Mega, one of the longest established commercial broadcasters in Greece, was excluded from the contest.