On 8th October 1983, LGR began transmitting to the Greek and Cypriot community, as a pirate radio station and officially joined the FM airwaves on 13th November 1989.
In the mid-1980s, tens of thousands of people signed a petition demonstrating the need for LGR to have a real presence within the community. The signatures were handed to the relevant authorities which subsequently contributed to the station being licensed by the radio authorities.
The book, ‘London’s Pirate Pioneers’ by Stephen Hebditch tells the story of the capital’s pirate radio stations and the people who helped change the British broadcasting system.
He writes about LGR’s undeniable legacy in the eighties and the intense pressures it faced to shut the station down. However, London Greek Radio became Britain’s first-ever licensed ethnic radio station upon being awarded its license.
Over the years, London Greek Radio has become steadfast to a wide range of listeners; from maturing-settlers-to-the-UK to the coming-of-age of British Greeks and Cypriots – connecting listeners to their roots through a carefully balanced programming of music, speech, entertainment and news.
Today, in addition to serving communities on 103.3FM, LGR has been taken into 21st-century broadcasting by joining the Digital Radio platform.
LGR can now be heard in four major cities on DAB+ (digital radio), namely London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow, crossing into Scotland.
Furthermore, listeners extend worldwide at www.lgr.co.uk and the station has a free app for mobile devices which listeners can download from the App or Play stores embracing the ‘on-the-move’ audience.
LGR’s newly appointed Managing Director, Tony Psillou, said, “More listeners are discovering the ever-growing London Greek Radio family every day, not only Greek-speaking listeners but English, Jewish, Albanian, Arab, Bulgarian, Turkish, Russian and many more that frequently tune in.
He added, “LGR is undergoing a revamp with fresh ideas to attract an even wider audience. Exciting times ahead ‘onwards and upwards’.”
LGR’s Chairman John Kyriakides, added, “With LGR’s edgier playlists of the biggest Greek and Cypriot tunes, Modern Laika, Greek Pop, Entehna, Golden-Oldies, Alternative, Folk and Current Chart Hits, we continue to serve the listener.
“It’s this enigmatic reason that the station remains the preferred choice in most Greek and Cypriot homes, offices, shops, factories, workplaces, vehicles and venues.”
On FM, Online, on your Mobile and On Digital Radio, This is LGR (London Greek Radio) ‘THE HEARTBEAT OF THE GREEK COMMUNITY‘.
Happy Birthday LGR!
