First Programme (, ''Proto Programma'') is the first Greek public radio station, first broadcast by the

National Radio Foundation The National Radio Foundation () or EIR (), was the main public state broadcaster of Greece Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. Located on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borde ...

and later

Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation The Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (), commonly shortened to ERT (), is the state-owned public radio and television broadcaster of Greece. History Overview ERT began broadcasting in 1938 as the Radio Broadcasting Service or YRE (). Followin ...

1938

Founded in 1938 as '' Athens Radio Station'' from a studio in

Zappeion The Zappeion (, ) is a large, palatial building next to the National Gardens of Athens in the heart of Athens, Greece. It is generally used for meetings and ceremonies, both official and private and is one of the city's most renowned modern land ...

, with transponders in Ano Liosia and the musical branding " Tsopanakos" (I was a shepherd) by clarinetist Nikos Rellia, from Goura, Corinthia.

1945

When Germany invaded, it stopped transmitting, returning in 1945 with a new name, as ''radio EIR''. The station mainly broadcast music with news in between. Since it began, the station has had a significant presence in theatre, with the participation of important artists such as Alexis Solomos and Karolos Koun. In the theatre of Sartre in 1951 Manos Hadjidakis made his radio debut, writing music of investment.

1952

In 1952, modernisation of the radio station took place to stand out from the newly created second program.

1978

In 1978, the National Radio and TV Broadcasting Foundation (EIRT) was reorganised into a public limited company and renamed

and the first program continued to operate under the new entity. The station was founded under the name "First Program" in 1978. It was the first program that operated as public radio. The Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT) was reorganised as a public limited company. The station continued operating as part of the new entity.

1987

In 1987 due to the restructuring of the Hellenic Radio, programs were renamed to ERA 1.

1997

In 1997, during another reorganisation and consolidation of the television network, NET (formerly ET2) again changed its name to NET 105.8, which later became "First Program" with news. The station got into the information radio market and had great success. In 1997, under a new reorganisation and consolidation of the NET they changed once again to NET 105.8, which later became NET FM.

2012

In December 2012, it returned to its former name, but kept its programming.

2013

On June 11, 2013, the government decided to close the ERT. However, after ERT closed, the ERA 1 and some other stations owned by ERT still remain online, controlled by then-former ERT employees via ERT Open. The name "First Program" continues to be used by the first radio station under the new state broadcaster, NERIT.

2015

On June 11, 2015, the First programme was reopened.

Petridis and Zougris

Giannis Petridis and Kostas Zougris had a radio show, 1974—2012, for 38 years. Then Kostas Zougris retired and then Giannis Petridis continued his show on Vima FM 99,5. As of July 24, 2017, Giannis Petridis returned to the Proto Programma, but this time, he's hosting the show himself.

References

{{Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation Hellenic Radio Radio stations established in 1939 1939 establishments in Greece Propaganda radio broadcasts News and talk radio stations