By decision of the then mayor of Athens, Miltiades Evert, the first free radio station in the country “went on the air” on Sunday, May 31, 1987, on the frequency 98.4 FM, without an official license to operate, without interference and political pressure from parties or individuals. In those early days, in order to hold the antenna of the station in Lycabettus, there were real skirmishes between the inhabitants of the municipality and the MAT. It broadcast a radio signal from the first floor of the town hall at 22 Liosion Street. The first president of the station was the actor Nikos Apergis and the first manager was the journalist Yannis Tsannetakos. His first 12 hour live daily program Athens 9.84 it included news, social, political and musical broadcasts, as well as interviews with politicians, artists, academics and news figures. Within a few months, the station’s audience reached 50%. Among the pioneers were Maria Rezan, Giorgis Massavetas, Yannis Petridis, Jacques Menachem, Siphis Polimilis, Xenophon Rarakos, Bilio Tsoukala and others.

The Municipality of Athens and Athens 9.84, commemorating the early years of the station, present an exhibition with anecdotal photographic, archival and audiovisual material from the time. Photos, videos, newspaper headlines, audio clips of broadcasts – all this will be presented until June 6 at the Technopolis Engine Workshop of the Municipality of Athens, curated by Konstantinos Pittas and Margaritas Mytilinaios. Those who view the space will have the opportunity to see the radio components of that era, but also objects from rich collections such as the personal archive of Anastasia Dolka, secretary of Miltiadis Evert. This is a selection of about 200 negatives that he kept over the years, when from 1987 to 1989 with a small Kodak camera he went down to the studio every day and photographed the producers, journalists and guests of the show.