Demetris Kastanas Way

Demetris Kastanas, known as “Mr. Greek TV,” was the owner of National Greek Television (NGTV), the first private Greek-owned and Greek-speaking TV channel in the U.S. Kastanas was born in Fthiotida in the village of Molos, and grew up in Greece, studying law while working at the Ioniki-Laiki Bank. He moved to the U.S. when he was 25 years old and first inaugurated a Greek weekly show on an American station on September 25, 1975.

NGTV, now New Greek Television, was established in December 1987, when it began airing on the Time-Warner Cable system in Queens and Brooklyn. Kastanas ran the channel for 37 years, until he sold it to a group of Greek Americans in 2012. His channel and programs were a staple in many Greek American households in New York.

Kastanas also founded Eseis, a bi-weekly magazine to address issues of concern to the Hellenic-American community. His work provided Greek Americans with a connection to their homeland through Hellenic news, folklore and music, and also helped new Greek immigrants assimilate into life in the United States.

Sources:

Gil Tauber, "NYC Honorary Street Names," accessed June 15, 2022, http://www.nycstreets.info/

"Dimitris Kastanas, Pioneer TV Producer Passed Away at 70," Greek News, January 21, 2013, https://www.greeknewsonline.com/dimitris-kastanas-pioneer-tv-producer-passed-away-at-70/

"Astoria Street Conamed for the Late Demetris Kastanas," The National Herald, May 12, 2016, https://www.thenationalherald.com/astoria-street-conamed-for-the-late-demetris-kastanas/

"Stated Minutes of February 5, 2016," New York City Council, https://a860-gpp.nyc.gov/concern/nyc_government_publications/9p290b09p?locale=en