Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation

The Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as ERT, is Greece's state-owned public-service broadcaster, operating national and regional radio, television, online news, streaming, international services, and musical ensembles. Its institutional history reaches back to 1938, when Greece established the Radio Broadcasting Service, initially serving Athens. The organization was reorganized after the Second World War as the National Radio Foundation, expanded into television during the 1960s, and adopted successive legal and operating forms before becoming the modern Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation. Radio was ERT's original core activity. Its services developed from a small Athens operation into a national network serving news, current affairs, Greek music, classical music, culture, sport, world music, and regional audiences. ERT also maintains international programming for Greek-speaking communities and the diaspora through the Voice of Greece. The broadcaster is historically associated with a nationwide network of regional stations and with Thessaloniki-based programming focused on northern Greece. Television test transmissions began in 1965 and regular service followed in 1966. The television operation was shaped by Greece's political history: the Armed Forces Television service established during the military dictatorship was later civilianized and became ERT2. A third channel, ET3, was introduced in 1987 from Thessaloniki, adding a strong regional and cultural dimension. During the late 1980s and 1990s, the arrival of privately owned commercial broadcasters forced ERT to compete for audiences while retaining public-service responsibilities. Its television portfolio subsequently included news, entertainment, documentaries, sports, cultural programming, regional coverage, and international distribution. ERT was the official Greek broadcaster for major international sporting events, including the Olympic Games hosted in Athens in 2004, and has carried Olympic coverage in Greece since 1968. It has also participated in European broadcasting cooperation and was among the founding organizations of the European Broadcasting Union in 1950. The corporation's most consequential modern turning point came on 11 June 2013, when the Greek government ordered its closure. ERT's frequencies were taken off air and approximately 2,500 employees lost their positions. Employees continued broadcasting through improvised terrestrial, satellite, and internet arrangements, while the European Broadcasting Union helped preserve access to an ERT feed. The closure prompted legal challenges, political opposition, labor action, and international criticism. A replacement organization, NERIT, was established during the intervening period, preceded by temporary public television services. Parliament later approved legislation to restore ERT. On 11 June 2015, ERT resumed broadcasting and NERIT ceased operations. Since its relaunch, ERT has continued as Greece's public broadcaster, combining conventional radio and television with digital platforms such as ERTFLIX, ERT Play, online news, live streams, and web services for music and sport. Its public mandate encompasses informing, educating, entertaining, preserving Greek cultural expression, serving regional communities, and reaching Greeks abroad.

ERT's origins date to 1938, when the Greek state created the Radio Broadcasting Service, initially operating from Athens. During the Axis occupation the service was reorganized under another corporate form. Following liberation, it became the National Radio Foundation in 1945 and expanded its radio activity to national and international audiences. EIR was one of the 23 organizations that founded the European Broadcasting Union in 1950. Television testing began in 1965 and regular programming started in 1966. In 1970 the organization became the National Radio and Television Foundation. A separate Armed Forces television service, created in the political environment of the military junta, was later transformed into a civilian broadcaster and ultimately became ERT2. The institutional changes reflected Greece's transition from military rule to parliamentary democracy and the gradual development of a national public broadcasting system. A third television service, ET3, began in 1987 from Thessaloniki. It provided national distribution while emphasizing northern Greek affairs and regional production. By the late 1990s, ERT's television services were commonly identified as ET1, NET, and ET3, with programming spanning entertainment, news, documentaries, sport, culture, and regional issues. The legalization and growth of private commercial television in the late 1980s changed the competitive environment. ERT adopted a broader and more commercially aware schedule while continuing to carry public-service and cultural programming. ERT became a major national broadcaster of sport and international events. It served as Greece's official broadcaster for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and had carried Olympic coverage domestically since the 1968 Mexico City Games. Its radio portfolio also expanded into specialized national, regional, cultural, sports, music, and international services. The corporation developed a network of regional stations and maintained services directed toward Greeks outside the country. On 11 June 2013, the Greek government abruptly dissolved ERT. The decision removed the broadcaster from its frequencies and affected roughly 2,500 employees. Staff members occupied facilities and continued producing and distributing programs through internet streams, regional infrastructure, and other means. The Council of State ordered measures to maintain public broadcasting pending the creation of a replacement operator. The EBU criticized the closure and supported continued circulation of an ERT signal. A successor named NERIT was announced in June 2013. Temporary public television services appeared before NERIT began regular operations. The closure remained politically and legally contentious, and dismissed or striking ERT workers continued some broadcasts for months. In April 2015, the Greek Parliament approved the legal reopening of ERT. The corporation returned to service on 11 June 2015, while NERIT ceased broadcasting. The restored ERT operates across television, radio, digital media, and online streaming. Its services include general-interest, news, cultural, sports, regional, and international programming. Digital products such as ERTFLIX and ERT Play extend its reach beyond linear broadcasting, while ERT's National Symphony Orchestra, Contemporary Music Orchestra, and Choir support the broadcaster's cultural role. The organization remains a state-owned public-service institution with responsibilities toward audiences in Greece and the Greek diaspora.

1. 2017ERT Play launches

   The broadcaster launches an internet channel for selected live events and competitions.

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2. 2015ERT reopens

   ERT resumes broadcasting on 11 June, replacing NERIT.

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3. 2013Government shutdown

   ERT is dissolved and taken off air on 11 June.

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4. 2004Official broadcaster of the Athens Olympic Games

   ERT serves as Greece's official national broadcaster for the Athens Olympics.

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5. 1987ET3 is introduced

   A third television channel launches from Thessaloniki with a regional focus.

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6. 1966Regular television service launches

   Full television programming begins in Greece.

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7. 1965Television test transmissions begin

   The Greek public broadcaster begins experimental television transmissions.

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8. 1950Founding membership of the EBU

   ERT's predecessor is among the founding broadcasting organizations of the European Broadcasting Union.

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9. 1945National Radio Foundation is established

   The postwar broadcaster is reorganized as the National Radio Foundation.

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10. 1938Radio Broadcasting Service begins

    Greece establishes the Radio Broadcasting Service, the institutional predecessor of ERT.

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Public-service broadcasting centered on national news, Greek culture, education, entertainment, regional representation, sport, and service to the Greek diaspora.

• Hellenic RadioRadio broadcasting1938

  ERT's radio portfolio covers national news, current affairs, Greek music, classical music, culture, sport, world music, regional programming, and international broadcasting. Services associated with the portfolio include the First Programme, Second Programme, Third Programme, ERA Sport, Kosmos, Voice of Greece, and stations serving Thessaloniki and other regions.

• Television servicesTelevision broadcasting1966

  ERT's television operation provides public-interest news, current affairs, entertainment, documentaries, cultural programming, sports, regional coverage, and event broadcasting. Its historical services included ET1, NET, ET3, ERT-HD, and digital specialty channels; its current television portfolio is complemented by online live streams and on-demand access.

• ERTFLIXStreaming platform

  ERTFLIX is ERT's online video platform. It provides live access to ERT channels together with on-demand television programs, films, series, documentaries, and other broadcaster content.

• ERT PlayInternet television2017

  ERT Play is an online channel used primarily for competitions, special events, and live programming that cannot be carried on ERT's principal television services.

• Voice of GreeceInternational radio

  Voice of Greece is ERT's international radio service for Greek-speaking audiences and the diaspora. It has distributed programming through shortwave, online streaming, and rebroadcast arrangements.

• ERT Music EnsemblesCultural production

  ERT supports three principal musical ensembles: the National Symphony Orchestra, the Contemporary Music Orchestra, and the ERT Choir. They produce and perform orchestral, contemporary, choral, and cultural programming connected with the broadcaster's public-service mission.

• 2015Reopening of ERTStrategy

  The government and Parliament reversed the previous public-broadcasting arrangement after sustained political, legal, and labor opposition to the 2013 closure.

  What changed. Legislation restored ERT, and the broadcaster resumed services on 11 June 2015 as NERIT ceased operations.

  Aftermath. ERT returned as Greece's public broadcaster and subsequently developed a broader digital presence alongside its radio and television services.

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• 2013Closure and dissolution of ERTOther

  The Greek government pursued a rapid restructuring of public broadcasting and argued that ERT was inefficient and costly relative to its audience.

  What changed. ERT was dissolved on 11 June, its frequencies were shut down, and a replacement broadcaster was proposed.

  Aftermath. Employees continued unauthorized or improvised broadcasts, the Council of State required interim public-service transmission, NERIT was created, and the closure became a major political and labor controversy.

  Employees affected. Approximately 2,500 (2013)

  • European Broadcasting Union — The EBU criticized the shutdown and supported continued distribution of an ERT signal.
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• 2011Television and digital-service restructuringStrategy

  ERT announced a restructuring of its television operation during a period of pressure to simplify services and respond to competition from private broadcasters.

  What changed. NET and ET3 became the principal television channels, ET1 programming was incorporated into NET, and the Cine+ and Sport+ digital services were discontinued. ERT World also adjusted programming for diaspora audiences.

  Aftermath. The changes reduced the number of separately branded services and concentrated programming on the main channels.

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• 2013Controversial government shutdown of ERTControversy

  The government dissolved ERT by ministerial decision on 11 June 2013, citing restructuring, cost, and audience concerns. The closure dismissed approximately 2,500 employees, triggered protests and continuing broadcasts by employees, drew criticism from the European Broadcasting Union, and was challenged before Greece's Council of State.

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• 2017ERT Play launches as an online event channel

  ERT introduced ERT Play as an internet channel for events and competitions that could not be accommodated on its principal television channels.

  Product launch
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• 2015Greek Parliament approves the reopening of ERT

  Legislation was approved to restore ERT as Greece's public broadcaster and end the interim NERIT arrangement.

  RegulationLeadership change
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• 2015ERT resumes broadcasting

  ERT returned to air on 11 June 2015, replacing NERIT as Greece's public broadcaster.

  Other
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• 2013ERT is ordered to close by the Greek government

  The government announced the dissolution and shutdown of ERT, taking its television and radio services off air and affecting approximately 2,500 employees.

  RegulationOther
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• 2013European Broadcasting Union criticizes the ERT shutdown

  The European Broadcasting Union publicly opposed the abrupt closure and helped distribute an ERT broadcast feed to preserve access to the broadcaster's programming.

  RegulationOther
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1. Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation
2. ERT official website