Change is afoot in Greece. With the new Greek government now instilled and attempting to make good on its election promises, it has announced that ERT — the Greek state broadcaster that was shut down in the summer of 2013 — will re-open. It will replace the two-year-old NERIT, which means Eurovision will likely be broadcast on the reborn ERT, just as it was for years before the shut down. And while Greeks will likely watch Eurovision on a different channel, those of us on the outside won’t see much of a difference. Maria-Elena Kyriakou will still be singing and she’ll still be rocking her ballad “One Last Breath”. YASSSS!
The actual law and reform and various deets have been drafted, but the Greek parliament still needs to debate the ins and outs. This may all seem semantic and meaningless to outisiders, but there is heavy symbolism in Greece. NERIT, formed by the previous government, faced accusations of partisan ties and was said to serve as a mouthpiece of the government. The reborn ERT, which Greeks loved, will inform, educate and entertain the public — and be truly independent from any public or private interests. We hope, anyway.
Greek viewers will be able to watch ERT again in early May, just before Eurovision.
SECRET MEETING WITH THE EBU
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has had a special meeting with EBU President Jean-Paul Philippot and EBU Director General Ingrid Deltenre, where the EBU gave formal approval to ERT’s comeback. Rumor has it that the EBU requested this meeting, as Mr. Tsipras’ party has been against them, after the EBU’s decision to stop helping ERT’s sacked employees. The EBU bigwigs apparently apologised for once accepting and supporting NERIT.
In short: the decision to re-establish ERT will not create new problems for Greece at the 60th Eurovision Song Contest. Just erase the “N” and “I” from NERIT and you have ERT!
Public or private, channels were never independent in Greece.Just,public channels were depending on the goverment and private were(are) depending on rich corrapted people who control the goverment. Anyway, ERT or NERIT is ok but there is no need for useless people to rehire.
omg, this picture is so not randomly chosen…. the singer looks like a dick and the trampolin man looks like more than ready for it…..
Woot!
Will MAD TV still take over selections next year? Wonder how NRT would do 2016.
Go Greece! One of my favourites! <3
GOGO Maria-Elena!!!!
Nobody loved ERT. It was a bloated, inefficient public-sector behemoth with three television stations, dozens of radio stations across the country and thousands of very well-paid employees who always finished last in the ratings. In fact Eurovision was the only programme that brought it high ratings (the final has finished first in total viewership compared to any other programme every single year for the past decade). The “reborn” ERT is the same channel that NERIT was with a different name and and many more new hirings as this government wants to satisfy those who were laid off during the closure.… Read more »
Prefer the name *NERIT* <3
*ERT* is so old fashioned for me..!
Although i prefered Shaya with *SunShine* to represent Greece in the Diamond Vision *One Last Breath* is not bad song either..
Its good enough to have real chances of qualifying and have Greece once again for one more time present in the grand final 4 a 15th consecutive time in row since 2001! 🙂
ONE LAST BREATH FOR NERIT CHANNEL TOO.
ANYWAY, STILL FAVOURITES ITALY GREECE ESTONIA.
Greece!!!!!!!
Go Greece!!<3