Nearly 250 million euros in offers for four nationwide television licenses was the result announced by the Greek government in the early morning hours of Friday, after a grueling 70-hour process where bidders were kept in isolation at a relevant ministry’s offices.
Two of the winning bids were from current television broadcasters, whereas the other two successful bids were from companies owned by a construction contractor and his family, as well as a shipowner who owns the Olympiacos Piraeus football team.
Minister of State Nikos Pappas said total bids reached 246 million euros, a sum he said exceeded all expectations.
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.
The bid for the fourth and last license took 117 rounds and was only completed after 2 a.m. on Friday.
Two current broadcasters offered unsuccessful bids.
