NEW YORK (Top40 Charts) Giannis Petridis just informed the fans of his legendary show "From 4 til 5" on the Greek
State Radio 105,8 that the show comes to an end on June 30!!! As fans of the show since our childhood, this definitely sounds completely paranoid!
During this period, every year, the show organized various very interesting series of shows on several music topics, which as can be understood, will not take place. Giannis Petridis said on air that there are about 6 remaining shows, since there will also be strikes within the next few days.
We are mentioning the fact that the show completed its 35th year just a few days ago!!! If the cut-backs begin from shows like this, what can we say... It is simply the history of Greek radio, the show that introduced us to the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 00s is excluded from the program of the Greek State Radio 105,8, and from radio itself!
As you remember most music industry proffesionals, only John Peel has more time (37 years) remaining on Radio 1 BBC at the time of his death. According to the World Book of Records, John Peel and Giannis Petridis own the world records for remaining on the same station/show/broadcast time.
Every New Year we longed to listen to the previous year's top, his classical album reviews with which we sometimes agreed and other times disagreed... But we always looked with respect to the opinion of Giannis Petridis. Two people (there's also Zougris as part of the show, even if he usually stays at the background) without complexes, who taught us to listen to a lot with our ears truly open, and judge having broad horizons...
The Reason? According to reports, the plan of the Ministries of Internal Affairs and... Culture (in cooperation with IMF!!), which concerns the administration of Greek Radio and TV includes the following:
All producers must pass exams organized by the Supreme Council for Civil Personnel Selection (ASEP) in order to be re-hired by Greek Radio and TV.
When will the shows stop? On the 1st of July.
When will the shows start again? Nobody knows. When will ASEP exams take place? Nobody knows that either. And what will happen to Greek Radio and TV until then, without employees to carry out the work? This is the ultimate depreciation of Public Radio (and TV).
Party time for private radio stations...
Also, don't forget that Giannis Petridis is the one of (only) two Greeks who entered Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame!
As George Bush has said "I have opinions of my own - strong opinions - but I don't always agree with them." This is the same response/action today by the Greek Goveroment and ERT Administration.
PS: "The lines following describe the idea we conceived long time ago and which led to the making of the Top 40 Charts. It all started because of Yannis Petridis, the man who inspired us with the best music our living years. Top40 Charts exists thanks to the initial influence deriving from him, thus his outstanding knowledge regarding music and his programs that we've been listening to the Greek state radio....."
