ERT began broadcasting in 1938 as the Radio Broadcasting Service. After temporarily closing between 2013 and 2015, ERT was relaunched. ERT operates five channels, including a generalist channel, channels dedicated to entertainment, news, and sports, as well as an international channel aimed at the Greek diaspora.
Media assets
Television: ERT1, ERT2, ERT3, ERT Sports HD, ERT World
Radio: First Programme (Πρώτο Πρόγραμμα), Second Programme (Δεύτερο Πρόγραμμα), Third Programme, ERA Sport, Kosmos 93.6, Voice of Greece (ERA 5), 102 FM, 95.8 FM
State Media Matrix Typology: Captured Public/State-Managed (CaPu)
Ownership and governance
ERT is a state-owned enterprise overseen by the government. Its broadcasting activities are regulated by the National Broadcasting Council (ESR), a media regulator consisting of seven members appointed by Parliament.
After a series of legal changes in the ERT’s statute, the station was placed under the supervision of the Prime Minister instead of reporting to the Ministry of Digital Policy.
The highest governing body at ERT is a board with seven members. Five members are appointed by Parliament upon nomination by the government, and two members are appointed by the station’s staff.
Source of funding and budget
ERT is primarily funded by the collection of a license fee, which is a levy paid through the electricity bill. The fee amounts to €3 per month and is mandatory for all households in Greece that own a TV set.
Although the government provides grants to ERT, these grants make up only a small portion of the station’s total budget. In 2020, ERT’s total budget was €193.3m, with approximately €187m coming from the license fee, as reported in a company annual report and various media sources. In 2022, the broadcaster’s total budget stood at €200m, according to Paron.gr, a local media outlet, and the company’s annual report.
Editorial independence
No government rules or regulations imposed on ERT require the broadcaster to provide preferential coverage to the government.
In May 2022, August 2023, and June 2024, independent experts interviewed for this report described the station as a government mouthpiece. Journalists at ERT have stated that the government regularly instructs ERT’s management to censor reporting. Accusations of censorship have been continued in the past year, too.
According to its mission statement, ERT must be independent of the state, all state bodies, private companies, and political parties. To safeguard the station’s independence, ERT regularly enters into an agreement of principles with the Greek government, outlining the necessary conditions to ensure ERT’s autonomy.
There is no independent assessment and oversight mechanism to validate ERT’s editorial independence.
August 2024