CyBC to boost Turkish programmes

CYBC is overhauling its schedules, the public broadcaster’s chairman Andreas Aloneftis announced yesterday.

“We must not stray away from the philosophy of public broadcasting, whose responsibility is to put society first and entertainment viewing second,” said Aloneftis.
He said CyBC would now be a steadier channel that would offer coverage on all the issues faced by Cyprus.

“We will offer programmes to cater for everyone, from grandchildren to grandparents. There will be something for everyone,” said Aloneftis.

He said he hoped CyBC would be in every family’s home. “We are optimistic that people will opt for watching CyBC, even though the private channels do have popular programmes.”

Aloneftis said CyBC did not see the private channels as competition, but rather that each channel complimented the other.

The chairman said CyBC would be stepping up its news and cultural programmes for people to hear all opinions of both Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides regarding the Cyprus problem.

“CyBC 1 will be airing news, educational and cultural programmes while CyBC 2 will broadcast sports and entertainment for others,” said Aloneftis.

CyBC have also begun producing more sports and children’s programmes and will be airing an increasing number of discussion programmes on educational, political and cultural topics.
One major change for CyBC will be a substantial increase in broadcasting for Turkish Cypriots. Every day, one hour will be reserved for news, TV magazines and current affairs programmes in Turkish on CyBC 2.

Turkish Cypriot programmes will begin from Monday, from 8pm to 9.15pm. CyBC radio’s channel 2 will also be making significant changes, airing 11 hours of Turkish speaking programmes for Turkish Cypriots every day.

Aloneftis added that CyBC had donated large sums of money to various charities: £12,500 to the Cyprus Paraplegics Organisation, £12,000 to the Anti Cancer Society and £2,500 to the Blind School.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.