Grk101

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

EDT has finally moved into the former ERT headquarters, and have subsequently launched DT HD as well as three radio stations: DR1, DR2, DR3. Another stepping stone toward NERIT.... http://www.satleo.gr/cdn/component/content/article/1-satleo/6099-2013-12-02-08-08-36 http://www.e-tetradio.gr/ar9959el_storadiomegaroentostwnimerwniedr.html Also there is a slight variation of the provisional NERIT logo in this video posted a few days ago.

I completely agree with the comments about the logo. Let's hope that they will come up with some good on screen logos by the time they launch in March. I also agree that NERIT should be used as the corporate name only, with different names for the TV and radio services. After all, that is how ERT operated as well. The only service that used the ERT name was the international service. I don't think they will re-use any of the old names though, so they can keep the appearance that this is a "new public broadcaster". :gr:

Some more movement. The NERIT board has launched a public consultation campaign where citizens can contribute comments on how the new broadcaster should operate. The findings will be compiled in a report and submitted to the board to be considered when putting together the broadcaster. Along with this public consultation call, the board also released a (provisional) logo for the broadcaster: http://www.opengov.gr/consultations/?p=1744 Also by early December, NERIT is expected to become a full active member of the EBU.

One step closer to NERIT. Riot police removed ERT workers from the headquarters in Agia Paraskevi. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24847278 http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_07/11/2013_526635 Of course opposition parties denounced the raid, most notably SYRIZA who had 10 MPs try to enter the building. Now SYRIZA is using this to call a vote of no confidence in the Greek government. :mellow:

Well according to the latest statements given, it looks like they are now aiming for a March 2014 launch...: "But the head of Nerit's supervisory board Theodore Fortsakis told AFP that the most likely launch date is March 2014, contradicting initial predictions of a December start. "We wondered whether we should start with a light programme in January or if we should wait until we are completely ready, which will be towards March and that is what we opted for," he said. "We want to launch three stations: one that will be cultural and educational, a second one that will be more commercial and a third one, for Greeks abroad."" Also a big hurdle is that the former ERT headquaters are still being occupied. "But after the international outcry caused by ERT's June 11 shutdown, the government is well aware that a forceful evacuation could backfire." http://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/greeces-public-broadcaster-still-torn-011925279.html http://www.tovima.gr/en/article/?aid=534907

I figured I should make a new thread on NERIT and separate it from discussions on the former ERT. It looks like things are slowly moving forward for NERIT, the board of directors and president were chosen. (For a term of one year) The goal is to start building NERIT "from scratch" and launch sometime in the beginning of 2014. The new board is also supposed to meet with the EBU next week to get the ball rolling on their membership and any help they can offer in launching NERIT. http://www.tvshow.gr/thema-imeras/113800/articles/i-episimi-anakoinosi-gia-to-neo-ds-tis/article.aspx http://www.ethnos.gr/article.asp?catid=22768&subid=2&pubid=63897653

How is the quality, has it been kept up to par with the new additions?

I'm not sure what their status is in Canada, it appears their Canadian main site is down. I would suggest contacting them http://www.ellastvcanada.com/contact-us/ On their US site, it appears you can order just the sports package.

I wonder why all the doubles with Verizon, and grouped together with the regular versions? As for the line up posted, it looks like Ellas TV is really growing their line up with all these local channels; hopefully their overall service won't be overlooked and suffer. As I understand it subscribers are still waiting for an EPG and catch-up TV. From the looks of the list, it looks like they have Athens and Thessaloniki very well covered with local channels. As the majority of these local channels mostly appeal to people from those areas, maybe they could fill the gap for the rest of the country by adding some Patras area channels like gyros suggested, like Patra TV and Super B. Also maybe channels like Acheloos TV and Lepanto TV from Aitoloakarnania, which appears to lack coverage in the line up. I wonder how much difference there is between these three channels? I assume they are affiliated since they carry the same name.

I was told that as of recently the current US lineup has become a big mess with rearrangements and a lot of double channels now labeled cable and Verizon for some reason.

According to their site, it looks like its now $10 extra for a second TV on the same account.

I recently had the chance to test Ellas TV out briefly. I was actually impressed by the set up, seemed pretty smooth. I didn't notice any major issues; all the channels were working when I tried it. It seemed nice to have all those channel options, especially channels/programs that aren't carried by Dish. I think when it comes down to it though, the international versions of the channels pretty much include the more important programs anyway.

Not sure why this was done. A rep on the online chat said "as the orbital locations for the channel changes the system has to change the channel number too." Not sure what he was talking about, since it is still at 118.8w?

I just saw this. Don't get it confused with on-demand. Catchup TV is supposed to be a feature within the EPG that enables you to go back a certain amount of time and watch any program that has been broadcast. My friend says that there is not even an EPG yet.

It is funny how there has been a sudden influx of new postings about Ellas TV... :ph34r: Anyway, having been using the service for a few months now, here are some thoughts by my friend: Positives: Channel changing is fast for the most part Time delay channels are great, maybe one of the best features A lot of radio stations available, also YouTube and TuneIn app accessibility. On demand has promise Response time to issues is generally fast. He said he usually sees service notices pop up on the box before he even notices issues. Picture quality is great on most channels with exceptions (more on that below) Negatives: A few channels don?t work from time to time and picture quality varies on others. (Break up or degrades) But he says they have been getting better at fixing them quickly. On demand lacks. There are a lot of sections and options, but some of them are empty and updates to them are slow or sometimes non-existent. No EPG or Catchup TV as advertised yet. It seems they are working on it, but nothing yet. Overall he is happy with it and says it has promise, but a number of issues do need to be sorted out to make it better. He moved to a new house in a wooded area, so satellite signal is difficult to receive. But he says he misses the DVR option he had with Dish the most. Presumably if they launch Catchup TV and/or update the on demand more frequently, it wouldn't really be an issue. More updates in the future?.

For what it is worth, a friend of mine that has the service likes it for the most part aside from some faults.

What is interesting is that the site is registered to ATTIKES EKDOSEIS A.E. http://www.atticamedia.gr/ It looks like it is a completely Greek effort.

Nice to see the first Dish Network ad featuring Mega Cosmos. From this month's Orthodox Observer