Athens-based Skai TV on Friday paid a first installment of its winning bid for a nationwide broadcast license, with the sum deposited with a relevant ministry agency exceeding 14.5 million euros.

The electronic auction of only four such licenses has been vilified by current broadcasters, including Skai, and the political opposition, which charges that the leftist government is trying to control and manipulate the private broadcast media sector in the country.

The winning bids were from the owner of the current Skai television station, Yiannis Alafouzos, 43.6 million euros; the Kalogritsas family, which is active in construction, 52.6 million euros; current broadcaster Ant1, owned by the Kyriakou family, which is active in shipping, 75.9 million euros; and finally, a company called Alter Ego, owned by shipowner and football team owner Vangelis Marinakis. An offer by the latter reached 73.9 million euros.