Grk101

There are reports that government spokesperson Simos Kedikoglou has taken on the supervisory role at NERIT. Pantelis Kapsis held this role at EDT before he resigned for those following the saga. This should be interesting considering his history related to ERT..... http://www.enimerosi24.gr/104997/

Funny enough, Greece's participation in Eurovision is what is pushing them to launch NERIT. The EBU does not recognize EDT, and part of the deal to allow Greece to participate this year was that NERIT must be launched by the event. The current plan is for EDT to transition to NERIT on May 5th. (The contest starts the next day, May 6th) During this transition, all that will change is the logo on the screen from EDT -> NERIT. There is a lot of backlash from those who support the old ERT about this, since NERIT will essentially be a continuation of EDT as they claim. The latest information is that NERIT's own programing will begin May 10th if everything goes to plan. Already some programing that was ordered by the NERIT board has began airing on EDT, but the rest of it is supposed to start on May 10th. So if this information is accurate, NERIT will essentially be launching fully on May 10th rather than May 5th... Still no news on the namings of the new channels though. Despite those in charge claiming everything is in its final stages, it appears that everything is still a mess. Plus you have SYRIZA who keeps saying they will reopen ERT.....

The latest in the NERIT saga is that the transition launch date has been pushed back to May 5th.... Many are doubtful that they will stick to this new date after all the previous delays. The EBU's stance remains to be seen. They had originally set April 27th as the deadline for launch. They have launched a few new programs through EDT though.

I would take this with a grain of salt, but the NERIT board has supposedly approved the first 10 television programs that are expected to be up and running by the time the hand off from EDT to NERIT happens in April. They include a music show in the vain of "Stin Ygeia Mas", a game show focusing on knowledge facts, a biopic type series focusing on famous Greeks, a documentary series focusing on Greek abroad, and a documentary on the World Cup. 15 more programs are expected to be approved for a total of 25 television programs. These productions were selected from about 600 proposals that were submitted to NERIT. Let's see what happens..... http://www.newsbeast.gr/media/arthro/655182/oi-nees-ekpobes-tis-nerit-pou-elavan-prasino-fos/

EDT has been using ERT's old rights so far airing the winter Olympics, select UEFA Champions League games, Euroleague and Formula 1. They have also been airing Athlitiki Kyriaki with all the sports highlights. Actually on that note, there was an article this week about releasing funds from ERT to pay for ERT's sports rights that are being used by EDT. As for future funding, I think the supposed increased transparency is going to be a double sword for them. Even the little information ERT released was always picked apart. There has been a fee of 3 Euro tacked onto the electric bill since January. With the 3 Euro fee, they are expecting to collect 191 million Euro this year, of which 101 million Euro is supposed to cover the operation costs of NERIT. The rest is supposed to be primary surplus to the state budget. In comparison, ERT collected a 4.24 Euro fee a month. For 2012, ERT collected 300 million Euro of which 245 million Euro went toward its operation. Of course there are complaints that the fee is being collected already while NERIT is not on air yet. http://www.newsit.gr/default.php?pname=Article&art_id=260865&catid=12 http://www.dei.gr/en/eksupiretisi-pelatwn/themata-pelatwn/ti-aforoun-oi-xrewseis-uper-tritwn-efk-eidtelos-5/nea-elliniki-radiofwnia-internet-kai-tileorasi-ner Well that is the plan I think. If I understand the set up correctly, there are two governing boards to NERIT: A 7 member supervisory board, and a five member board of directors. All their decisions are supposed to be independent of government intervention. EDT on the other hand, is far from independent. That is another reason why they want to launch NERIT by the end of April, because it would be considered unfair to have EDT covering the May elections when the current government has sway in it. Like you said though, it will probably be hard for NERIT to be truly independent.

I meant more along the lines of general informational, my mistake. Here is the exact description for the channel in Greek: "1

I would say the satellite channel is all but certain, and maybe a few radio stations like the diaspora centric one if Dish still finds it worth while to offer. It appears that the main services will finally launch by the end of April, but the question is if they will also launch the satellite version at the same time, and how long it will take to negotiate the worldwide rights onto the different platforms.

NERIT is calling on all Greek citizens to submit ideas and suggestions for the naming of their television, radio and internet media services. Starting today until March 20th, anyone can submit their suggestions for the naming of the three planned television channels, six radio stations, and the main website for NERIT. The link to submit ideas is http://www.nerit.gr/proskliseis/p04/ A brief description on each planned station to help with naming: Television stations: 1st channel: General news, sports, news from Greece and the world 2nd channel: Cultural, Entertainment 3rd channel: Greek diaspora - Satellite Radio stations: 1st station: General news, Sports 2nd station: Greek music 3rd station: Classical music, art, 4th station: World music 5th station: Greek diaspora 6th station: Foreign citizens living in or visiting Greece Then there is also the naming for the main website.

I guess you are right, especially since SKAI is a private broadcaster - unlike ERT World's situation under Comart. As for a schedule for SKAI, if it is the New Greek TV version in Canada as well, they have their schedule up here: http://www.newgreektv.com/index.php/tv-guide I am surprised it is just listed as SKAI on Bell Fibe without any distinction of it being an international version, like the other Greek channels do for their international services. For Alpha Sat's schedule, try this: http://tvlistings.zap2it.com/tvlistings/ZCSGrid.do?sgt=grid&stnNum=56072&channel=9831 If the link does not work, just go to http://tvlistings.zap2it.com. Put in any US zip code, select DISH NETWORK as the provider, then find ALPHA SAT in the channel list.

Well well well, how predictable. "SKAI.gr live streaming is not available in Canada and the U.S. Click here to find out how you can watch SKAI TV in your country." It takes you to this page http://www.skai.gr/Canada-USA that lists three options to view: 1. Download an iPhone app and pay a $9.99 a month subscription 2. Subscribe to Bell Fibe TV in Canada 3. Subscribe to New Greek TV in New York They mention that they will announce further distribution agreements soon for North America....At least they are still letting you view past programing on demand for now.

So Comart is involved with SKAI.... Comart used to control the distribution rights for ERT WORLD, with some "controversial" effects - to say the least. Let us all hope that the free SKAI web-stream does not get blocked, like the free ERT stream was under their command. :ph34r:

It appears this past week DT HD has been broadcasting slightly different programing, covering more Winter Olympics programing than DT. I guess that is a good workaround for EDT since they don't have any other channels set up yet, but not so good for fans of the games who can not receive the HD feed.

Do not be so certain, ALPHA SAT was approved in May last year, but did not appear on Bell Fibe until October. On the other hand, with SKAI and MAD WORLD adds maybe they will add any new channels faster in a race to be the number one ethnic provider in Canada. RE SKAI/New Greek TV. If it really is New Greek TV, I wonder if that affects any possible US expansion/SKAI availability here. Does anyone know if they have an exclusive deal with Time Warner here in the states? If that is the case, I wonder if New Greek TV will expand out of the NYC area now that Comcast is buying Time Warner? However, just look how limited ANT1 SATELLITE is on the current Comcast network....

Per new reports, the deadline to fully launch NERIT has been pushed back to around April 25th. Pilot programing and changes will begin in March, but under EDT. NERIT will fully launch by the April deadline. (NERIT has to launch before May due to the elections, and a deal they signed with the EBU regarding their participation and broadcast of the Eurovision Song Contest) As for the channel names and logos, there will be an open call put out to schools and graphic design companies. There have already been open calls for many things including programing proposals. All the related documents are on http://www.nerit.gr http://www.zappit.gr/default.php?pname=Article&cat_id=15&art_id=24067

Ahh, it was only a matter of time until Titan tried to launch the rest of their channels in Canada too. I can maybe see Star International being picked up by providers, but I can't see the rest going beyond Bell Fibe (if they are even picked up). They are far too niche of channels for the cable and satellite companies. Interesting times for Greek TV in Canada! That is a big question. One would think there would be a tender out for the distribution rights already. But at the same time, how can there be for a channel that is not yet launched? Something tells me that there will be the typical drama surrounding the distribution rights... It will be interesting to see what Mr. Kedikoglou will have to say about it all, now that he is the government spokesperson. He was one of the biggest critics of the past tender processes when he was an opposing MP.

Some updates: *EDT has launched live streaming: http://www.hprt.gr/webtv-live and has also brought the historic pubic television (ERT) archives back online: http://www.hprt-archives.gr *NERIT has launched a "company" website: www.nerit.gr *According to reports, everything is moving forward still for a March launch. There is a tender out for programing proposals currently, and the board of directors are supposedly looking into names for the stations now. *On the flip side, SYRIZA came out with a proposal on how they will reinstate ERT if they come to power in any potential elections. :rolleyes:

Could there be any tie with New Greek TV (NGTV)? I noticed their programing now appears to be predominantly SKAI programing, and on their advertise page it specifically mentions SKAI and MAD by name: "New Greek TV offers an array of programming from Greece and original programming that includes: *Greek Programming from Greece from the most contemporary Channel SKAI and MAD TV that includes: live news, talk shows, entertainment, sports, music and movies." http://www.newgreektv.com/index.php/advertise http://www.newgreektv.com/index.php/tv-guide

I thought it was strange too. Here is an example scan from their advert in a magazine: http://tinypic.com/r/25aj5er/5 I wonder if it is Verizon FiOS or ANT1 Satellite footing the bill for these adverts.

Very very strange. SKAI in Greece definitely does not air any 4E programing. It sounds like it is a North American version, and as you mentioned Titan owns the rights for 4E in North America. Very strange. Furthermore, the NYC commercials lead me to believe that a US launch is close? I wonder if Verizon FiOS will pick it up, I noticed that they have stepped up their marketing and have been taking out full page ads in Greek-American publications recently for ANT1 Satellite....

Well Euronews has launched a Greek version of their channel, but it is only broadcast in Athens I believe. I believe that most of the content is just dubbed into Greek though.

There are stories out claiming that EDT is currently contemplating the launch of an international version of DT until NERIT launches. There are cost and distribution worries though. http://www.satleo.gr/cdn/component/content/article/1-satleo/6118--------world

Is Greek Cinema also on Bell Fibe TV? By my calculations, you get all the channels on Bell Fibe TV for $32.50 CAD a month. Not bad, considering Dish Network charges $29.99 USD for their similar package without the new two channels. I wonder how well their pricing approach will go though. Will people shell out $5 for example for a niche channel like MAD World? Maybe they should have packaged them together instead. On the Titan website, they seem to highlight the fact that they alone control the IPTV rights for their channels. So maybe they have now outsourced the satellite rights to their partner Soundview because of their past history. We know they did this with Mega Cosmos in the US to get on Dish Network. It is still puzzling though as to why Titan was on the Alpha Sat application but Soundview is on the Star International application... Also since I am not too familiar with how the CRTC works, why are there no applications for SKAI and MAD World? Makedonia TV doesn't really offer anything worthwhile (although there have been long standing rumors of a restructuring that never happens), and E Channel just launched a few months ago and is also a small time player. Realistically, if any new channels were to be launched in Canada, they would be niche channels 4E TV and/or RIK Sat since they are already on IPTV in the US. (and were on satellite at one time) 4E is a religious channel like you stated, and RIK Sat caters to the Greek-Cypriot diaspora. Also of course the new ERT (NERIT) when that launches next year.

HellasHab, I assume you mean the same Soundview that sub-licenses the rights from Titan Television/Greek Media Group for Mega Cosmos to Dish Network. I know in the past you posted that Alpha Sat was also launched in partnership with Titan and Odyssey. I wonder if Titan/GMG/Soundview or whatever they go by got the rights for SKAI and MAD World as well. That would mean they control the rights for all the Greek channels except ANT1 Satellite and Greek Cinema. MCIBUS says he saw some New York and Toronto area commercials on SKAI, so it sounds like they have possibly finally launched an international version of the channel, which is really surprising! I wonder if any of these channels will make it onto Dish Network in the US. Just by the fact that Soundview applied for Star International in Canada, it sounds like it could be offered on Dish eventually. (Although I suspect they are waiting to see what will happen with NERIT first)

Wow, Great news for those in Canada! Is SKAI a direct stream? I wonder where they are getting MAD World from. Must be coming directly from MAD in Athens, since I don't believe it is available elsewhere worldwide currently since UBI went under in Australia?

EDT has launched DT2 in Thessaloniki. As of now, it broadcasts the same programing as DT(1) and DT HD. http://www.satleo.gr/cdn/component/content/article/1-satleo/6099-2013-12-02-08-08-36