One Channel

One Channel is a Greek private television channel based in Athens and associated with Alter Ego Media, the media company controlled by entrepreneur Vangelis Marinakis. The project emerged during a major restructuring of Greece's private television market, when the government sought to limit and reallocate national broadcasting licences through a competitive auction process. On 2 September 2016, Marinakis won one of four national television licences auctioned in Greece, with Alter Ego Media reportedly bidding €73.8 million. The bidding process attracted considerable public attention because of its unusual format and the high prices paid for the licences. Alter Ego subsequently registered the One Channel name and logo on 29 September 2016. The planned network did not initially launch, however, because the licensing auction was cancelled and the licence obtained by Alter Ego was lost. Alter Ego did not participate in the later auction for seven television licences held during 2017 and 2018. This decision followed the company's acquisition of Lambrakis Press Group on 31 May 2017. Lambrakis Press Group held a 22% stake in Mega Channel, giving Alter Ego an important connection to an existing Greek television operation. In October 2018, Alter Ego attempted to acquire one of the remaining television licences, reportedly offering €3.5 million. The One Channel project subsequently developed as a news-oriented broadcasting operation. In the context of national elections, it obtained a temporary licence on 10 June, allowing it to cover the political event. By the end of August, the channel was producing network programming and had recruited prominent Greek journalists. Its first broadcast took place on 17 April 2019 through the In.gr news website, initially covering the presentation of Giannis Moralis as a candidate for mayor of Piraeus. The first official broadcast followed on 2 May through One Channel's own website. On 23 May, the service expanded to satellite and IPTV distribution through Nova and Cosmote TV. The channel was initially expected to begin digital terrestrial broadcasting in November 2019. Instead, Alter Ego acquired the Mega Channel brand, logo and extensive programme library from Teletypos S.A. through an auction held on 1 November 2019. The reported bid was €33,999,999. Following the acquisition, Alter Ego reopened Mega Channel on a trial basis on 11 February 2020, with regular programming beginning six days later. This redirected the group's television strategy toward the established Mega identity and left One Channel's subsequent operational status unclear. From 1 November 2022, the service also broadcast terrestrially in a regional capacity, replacing Channel 9. One Channel is therefore best understood as a Greek television brand and broadcasting project whose development was shaped by licensing disputes, digital distribution, and Alter Ego Media's acquisition and revival of Mega Channel.

One Channel was developed by Alter Ego Media during the reorganisation of Greece's private television sector. On 2 September 2016, Alter Ego, associated with Vangelis Marinakis, won one of four national television licences offered in a highly competitive auction. The company reportedly paid €73.8 million. It registered the One Channel name and logo on 29 September, but the network did not launch as originally planned because the auction was cancelled and the licence was lost. Alter Ego did not take part in the subsequent auction for seven licences in 2017–2018. During this period, the company acquired Lambrakis Press Group on 31 May 2017. That acquisition was relevant to the television strategy because Lambrakis held 22% of Mega Channel. In October 2018, Alter Ego attempted to obtain one of the two remaining television licences with a reported €3.5 million offer. The One Channel operation later moved forward through temporary licensing and digital distribution. It received a temporary licence on 10 June in connection with election coverage. By late August, it had begun producing programming and had added well-known Greek journalists. The first broadcast was transmitted through In.gr on 17 April 2019, covering the presentation of Giannis Moralis as a mayoral candidate in Piraeus. The first official broadcast through One Channel's website took place on 2 May. On 23 May, the channel became available through satellite and IPTV distribution on Nova and Cosmote TV. The channel had been expected to begin digital terrestrial transmission in November 2019. However, on 1 November, Alter Ego purchased the Mega Channel brand, logo and programme library from Teletypos S.A. The reported auction price was €33,999,999. Alter Ego subsequently relaunched Mega Channel, first on a trial basis on 11 February 2020 and then with normal programming from 17 February. This acquisition altered the practical role of One Channel within the group's television portfolio. From 1 November 2022, One Channel also operated terrestrially as a regional channel replacing Channel 9. Publicly available reference material does not establish whether the One Channel brand remains fully active as a distinct service, so its present status is recorded as unknown.

• 2022

  Regional terrestrial broadcasting

  [1]One Channel (Greece)en.wikipedia.org

  One Channel began terrestrial digital broadcasting as a regional channel replacing Channel 9.

• 2020

  Mega Channel relaunch

  [1]One Channel (Greece)en.wikipedia.org

  Mega Channel returned under Alter Ego, initially on a trial basis and then with regular programming.

• 2019

  First broadcast and official launch

  [1]One Channel (Greece)en.wikipedia.org

  One Channel first broadcast through In.gr on 17 April, officially launched online on 2 May, and reached Nova and Cosmote TV satellite and IPTV services on 23 May.

• 2019

  Mega Channel assets acquired

  [1]One Channel (Greece)en.wikipedia.org

  Alter Ego bought the Mega Channel brand, logo and programme library from Teletypos S.A. at auction.

• 2018

  Attempt to acquire a remaining television licence

  [1]One Channel (Greece)en.wikipedia.org

  Alter Ego attempted to buy one of the remaining Greek television licences with a reported €3.5 million offer.

• 2017

  Alter Ego skips the later licence auction

  [1]One Channel (Greece)en.wikipedia.org

  The company did not participate in the later auction for seven television licences during 2017–2018, following its acquisition of Lambrakis Press Group.

• 2016

  Alter Ego wins a national broadcasting licence

  [1]One Channel (Greece)en.wikipedia.org

  Alter Ego Media won one of four national television licences in Greece after a reported €73.8 million bid.

• 2016

  One Channel name and logo registered

  [1]One Channel (Greece)en.wikipedia.org

  Alter Ego registered the network's name and logo on 29 September.

A Greek private television and news-oriented broadcasting service developed by Alter Ego Media during the restructuring of the country's commercial television market.

• Television broadcasting · 2019

  One Channel television service

  The core One Channel offering was a Greek private television service developed for news, current affairs and general network programming. It began through online distribution, later added satellite and IPTV carriage, and was subsequently associated with regional terrestrial digital broadcasting. The service's long-term position was affected by Alter Ego's acquisition and relaunch of the established Mega Channel brand.

• Digital video · 2019

  One Channel online broadcast

  One Channel used web distribution during its launch phase. Its initial broadcast was carried by the In.gr news website, followed by official online broadcasting through the channel's own website. This digital-first distribution enabled the service to begin programming before its later expansion to satellite, IPTV and terrestrial platforms.

• 2019

  Acquisition of Mega Channel branding and programme libraryM&A

  Background

  Alter Ego had developed One Channel during a period of contested Greek television licensing, but it also had an established connection to Mega through its acquisition of Lambrakis Press Group, which held a minority stake in Mega Channel.

  Action taken

  Alter Ego purchased the Mega Channel brand, logo and programme library from Teletypos S.A. at auction for a reported €33,999,999.

  Aftermath

  The company reopened Mega Channel in February 2020, shifting the group's television strategy toward the established Mega identity and making One Channel's subsequent independent status unclear.

  Reported acquisition bid. €33,999,999 (1 November 2019)

  Source

1. 1One Channel (Greece)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2One Channel official websiteonetv.gr