Broadcast area London First air date 13 November 1989 | Frequency 103.3 MHz | |
Format Greek and English language | ||
London Greek Radio (LGR) is an Independent Local Radio station established by London's sizeable Greek community, most of which forms part of the ethnically diverse Cypriot community. It broadcasts in both Greek and English and includes news from the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC).
History
LGR started as a pirate radio station in 1983 for its predominantly Greek Cypriot audience, even featuring in national newspapers on the pirate radio revival. In 1985, one raid was broadcast on air with the police shouting racist abuse live on air.
It is currently based in the North London suburb of Finchley. LGR has also recently increased its English air-time due to a lack of Greek-speaking young Londoners listening, particularly in the evenings as part of their New Generation scheme.
Its audience today consists mainly of Greek Cypriots and other Greeks, as well as Turkish, Armenian and Maronite Cypriots. Listeners also include other people of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean ancestry, especially Arabs and Jews, and Italians.
The station tends to play more music by Greek and Cypriot than English artists. Some music is sung in Armenian and Turkish, especially Eurovision entries or mixed-language Cypriot folk songs. A considerable amount of advertising is in the Greek language and is by small Cypriot-run businesses in North London, particularly around Palmers Green and Harringay. Other adverts are in English and for larger nationwide brands.