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Ert Shutting Down In Greece


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What a shock! There had been chatter for months that there would be major changes at ERT, but I don't think anyone expected it considering all the past talks of changes that never came, let alone a complete (albeit "temporary") shut down! Reuters article:

 

Greeks shocked as broadcaster is shut to save money

By Renee Maltezou and Karolina Tagaris

ATHENS | Tue Jun 11, 2013 9:42pm BST


(Reuters) - Greece announced the closure of its state broadcaster out of the blue on
Tuesday, one of the most drastic measures yet in its struggle to shore
up its bankrupt state finances and meet the terms of an international
bailout.


The decision to take ERT off the air at midnight and pay off some 2,600 staff before relaunching it
in a slimmed-down form set off a firestorm of protests from trade unions
and even junior partners in the ruling coalition. Some of the channels
appeared to shut down even before the deadline.

    

"At a time when the Greek people are enduring sacrifices, there is no room
for delay, hesitation or tolerance for sacred cows," spokesman Simos
Kedikoglou said in what was almost certainly ERT's last televised
government statement.

 

The three domestic television channels, along with regional, national and external
radio stations, cost Greece 300 million euros ($400 million) a year,
and Kedikoglou said it had become a "typical case of ... incredible
waste".

 

Thousands gathered outside ERT's headquarters after the announcement, vowing to fight the decision,
and riot police blocked the entrance to a studio in central Athens
where protesters had unfolded a banner reading "Down with the junta, ERT
won't close!".

 

"Today is Tuesday, June 11, and it is a difficult day," anchorwoman Elli Stai told viewers
from the studio as crowds of workers outside chanted and clapped.

 

"We will broadcast what appears to be our last news bulletin with the
composure, consistency and professionalism that we are used to."

 

Private TV stations took their live shows off air for six hours in a display of
solidarity, replacing them with re-runs and adverts. None ran the
traditional 8 p.m. news bulletin.

 

The announcement followed an embarrassing failure on Monday to find a buyer
for the gas firm DEPA as part of a broad sell-off of state assets,
leaving Greece short of the cash to meet its bailout targets.

 

STRAINS IN GOVERNMENT

The closure of ERT immediately opened cracks in Prime Minister Antonis
Samaras's fragile three-party coalition, whose two junior partners
protested that they had not been consulted.

 

"Public broadcasting can't shut down," said Yannis Maniatis, a senior official
of the Socialist PASOK party. "A three-way coalition doesn't work with
'faits accomplis'."

 

At the protest rally, opposition leader Alexis Tsipras called the closure "a coup, not
only against ERT workers but against the Greek people", and accused the
government of the "historic responsibility of gagging state TV".

The decision was made by ministerial decree, meaning that it could be implemented without reference to parliament.

 

"Journalism is being persecuted. We won't allow the voice of Greece to be
silenced," said George Savvidis, the chief of journalists' labour union
POESY.

 

Kedikoglou said ERT's staff would be encouraged to apply for jobs in a relaunched broadcaster, but
did not spell out what this would look like.

 

European Broadcasting Union President Jean Paul Philippot wrote to Samaras urging him to reverse the decision.

"National broadcasters are more important than ever at times of national difficulty," he wrote.

 

Inspectors from the "troika" of lenders - the European Union, International
Monetary Fund and European Central Bank - arrived in Athens on Monday
for their latest inspection of Greece's progress in saving money under
the bailout programme.

 

PASOK linked ERT's closure with a demand by the troika for 2,000 layoffs in the
state sector by August, and called for an immediate meeting of party
leaders.

 

"PASOK is in favour of brave, substantial state reforms," it said. "It is, however, against
fleeting and dangerous moves that are aimed to impress."

 

Before the failure of the DEPA sale, Greece had been enjoying unexpected
optimism from investors, who had pushed down bond yields and spurred
talk of a recovery, a year after Greece almost crashed out of the euro zone.

 

(Additional reporting by John Kolesidis and Harry Papachristou; Editing by Deepa Babington)

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/06/11/uk-greece-tv-idUKBRE95A0UW20130611

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There had been chatter for months that there would be major changes at ERT, but I don't think anyone expected it considering all the past talks

of changes that never came

 

That is exactly the problem here, all talk and no action, I don't think any major changes have been made anywhere by the government not just with ERT.  I think they took the drastic step of shutting down ERT because they were unable to move ahead with any of the reforms that they were trying to make so now they are going to make those changes by force.  Seeing as how things seem to move at a snails pace in Greece, I wonder how long it will be before the 'new' ERT is up and running?!    

 

I wonder what this means for ERT World, will it shut down tomorrow as well or will it keep operating?!  If it does shut down, I think it will probably be replaced with Alpha Sat here in Canada.

 

Here is another article about the shut down: http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_11/06/2013_503874

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The ERT workers have been keeping the broadcast going:

 

"Despite the signal to ERT?s TV channels being lost shortly after 11 p.m. on Tuesday, employees at the broadcasters headquarters in Athens and Thessaloniki refused to leave the buildings and managed to resume broadcasts via digital TV and the Internet. The Communist Party (KKE) also offered the frequency of its TV station, 902, to rebroadcast ERT?s programs." http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_12/06/2013_503983

 

 

Word is that a plan for a new "slimmed down" ERT will be presented as soon as possible. Early rumors say it will be relaunched realistically after the summer.

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It was turned off here in Australia since about 8am

Then TV PLUS switched to a web stream of NET

and about an hour ago we are now being shown ZOUGLA TV

Thats whats been happening here today with ERT

ERT WORLD on OPTUS D2 the FTA one has been black screen since 8AM

All webstreams now show ZOUGLA www.ert.gr

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Well a bill on the new ERT was presented today, but not many details out.

 

 

New national broadcaster to be named NERIT SA

 

A government plan regarding the development of a new national broadcaster replacing ERT was made public on Wednesday.

 

The bill, posted on the website of the government's general secretariat for
communications, noted that ERT would be renamed NERIT SA, which stands
for New Hellenic Radio Internet and Television.

 

The new legal entity is defined as a state company owned by the public sector and regulated by the state.

 

According to the bill, revenues will continue to stem from levies collected
through electricity bills, though the amount was not specified.

 

While the bill did not set a date for the launch of the new national
broadcaster government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou said on Tuesday that
the re-launch would take place by the end of August.

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_12/06/2013_504035

 

 

Meanwhile:

 

Greece back in crisis mode on state TV shutdown, downgrade

 

(Reuters) - Greece's fragile government faced an internal revolt and fierce public protest on Wednesday over the sudden closure of state broadcaster ERT, hours after the humiliation of seeing its bourse downgraded to emerging market status.

..........

 

However, political analyst Theodore Couloumbis of the ELIAMEP think-tank said it might trigger an early election.

 

"It could be highly destabilizing if it moves to a confrontation in parliament where the two smaller political parties have to humble themselves to avoid a next election or stick to it and force a next election," he said.

.........

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/12/us-greece-tv-idUSBRE95A0ZN20130612

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An article in e-kathimerini on why this "restart" makes sense, with some key information on NERIT's future:

 

"The so-called switch-off is actually a switch-over from old ERT to the new broadcaster, which will be named NERIT (New Hellenic Radio,
Internet and Television). The plan will save an estimated 100 million euros per year and will also lead to the Parliament Channel, another example of money wasted, being absorbed.

 

According to the bill presented by the government less than 24 hours after the shutdown of old ERT, the new broadcaster will not be elitist and comes complete with its own ombudsman.

 

A key priority for the new ERT will have to be its international program - what used to be ERT World. This is an area where there is great potential for the state broadcaster and one it will have to build its future on. The new ERT could take advantage of viewership in the Greek diaspora and support and among the friends of Greece across the world."

 

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite3_1_12/06/2013_504079

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ERT has been getting support from the EBU and broadcasters all across Europe. ERT employees who refuse to leave the broadcasting headquarters continue to produce programing and have been slowly expanding their coverage. The EBU is rebroadcasting their signal on satellite across Europe via Eutelsat 7A "to give Europe's public service media access to ERT's news content." Also French channel ART

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  • 3 weeks later...

This is the name of the temporary channel that will be on the air until the 'new' ERT launches in September. According to some recent court ruling in Greece, ERT signal had to be re-instated until the new version is up and running, EDT is the government complying with this ruling.

 

According to the article below, it will only be airing movies and documentaries, probably being run by a few employees.  I think the international service will be up and running in September, when NERIT launches.

 

http://greece.greekreporter.com/2013/07/10/greek-public-television-is-on-air/

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On Dish Network's webpage detailing the Greek programming, it no longer lists ERT World a-la-carte and no longer lists ERT World and its 3 radio stations as part of the Greek Elite package. Yet, the Greek Elite package still costs $29.99.

 

http://www.dish.com/entertainment/packages/international/?Region=european〈=Greek#international

 

On another note, isn't this "fun" everybody. After the 6 year run of the "Mega Switching Platforms" soap opera, ERT has decided to do its own "series". Can anyone think of titles we should call it?

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It looks like they are following the same plan that was originally outlined when ERT reforms were first discussed a while back.

 

Pretty much. From what I have read, those in charge are using old plans as their guide for NERIT.

 

 

 

On another note, isn't this "fun" everybody. After the 6 year run of the "Mega Switching Platforms" soap opera, ERT has decided to do its own "series". Can anyone think of titles we should call it?

 

I think we just have to be patient until NERIT launches. They already said there will be a satellite version, and we have no reason to believe that NERIT will go anywhere else but Dish Network for satellite. But I am sure Dish (and other pay tv providers around the world) are not too happy that ERT World was abruptly shut down.

 

I don't think EDT will be carried since it is a temporary channel. To me it would seem like too much of a hassle to try and acquire the rights for a channel that will only be on the air for 2 months, and airing only Greek movies and documentaries. When NERIT launches in the fall, they are going to have to acquire the rights from that too, unless any EDT rights they may acquire will carry over to NERIT. I doubt any rights from ERT World will carry over to either EDT or NERIT.

 

The new message on Dish Network is interesting though. I wonder what they are trying to add, another specialty channel or maybe Star International. Star's news program shakeup seems very promising, but that is not supposed to happen until September. And the question is, if they do add Star or another specialty channel, will the price still remain the same or raise again when they (probably) add NERIT in the fall as well?

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On another note, isn't this "fun" everybody. After the 6 year run of the "Mega Switching Platforms" soap opera, ERT has decided to do its own "series". Can anyone think of titles we should call it?

 

Just a little humor on my part.

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 I don't think EDT will be carried since it is a temporary channel.

 

I agree, there is no point to add this channel since its not really a 'real' channel, its the goverment's temporary solution to the court ruling which stated that ERT (or some form of ERT) had to be put back on the air until the new entity is officially launched.  As you can see by the programming it will be airing, its a stopgap measure to appease the court.

 

On another note, why do people want Star, this channel is crap IMO.  It airs mainly foreign programming and very little original Greek programming so what exactly does the international channel air?!  I noticed that Star has removed any mention of Star International from their website, so I am wondering if the international service even exists anymore?!  Also, recall that Star International was available at one point on RCN Cable and was removed only a short while after it was added which indicates to me that no one was interested in this channel so why then would Dish add it to their lineup?!  I think the current lineup (ANT1, Mega, Alpha & new ERT) is just fine, why is there a need for more channels especially considering the dire situation in Greece where all channels are cutting back and not producing any new programming except for cheap reality garbage?!

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