According to popular history, the first television signals seeped into Limassol today in 1958 – and the event caused quite a stir.
From a TV tower in Troodos, the new CBC signal could only clearly be seen in Nicosia, but the public on the west coast were keen to witness what all the fuss was about.
If contemporary news reports are to be believed, the excitement began when a crowd gathered along Athens Street, witnessing the monochrome, grainy signal – beamed from Nicosia – for first time.
However, AG Pilovachi, a resident of Limassol, took exception to reports of this ‘groundbreaking’ event, and set out to correct the record straight.
After ‘meticulously studying television technology,’ Pilovachi had reached the conclusion that reception in Limassol might be possible under specific conditions.
So, a month before the Athens Steert event – on January 13, 1958 – he sought permission from the Chairman of the Water Board to install a television aerial on top of the Water Tower for experimental purposes.
‘With permission kindly granted, I faced technical difficulties, prompting me to choose an alternative location, he explained. ‘The house of Mr. Galatariotis became the site of Limassol’s first successful television installation. The Grundig television set was installed with remarkable success, delivering excellent reception that exceeded expectations.’
Many Limassolians, as well as dealers, he added, experienced the joy of watching television programs, marveling at the quality of the reception.
Despite the early success, Pilovachi refrained from seeking immediate publicity.
‘My goal was to experiment under various weather conditions and determine the correct orientation of the aerial before concluding that the experimental phase was complete. This cautious approach ensured that the technology was reliable and effective.’
Television was introduced in Cyprus in 1956. The overall output of the new CBC service was very small – an hour in the afternoon, and another later in the evening. A year later, in 1957, the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) was established bringing a new era of information and entertainment to the island.