Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT)

ERT began broadcasting in 1938 as the Radio Broadcasting Service, marking the beginning of public broadcasting in Greece. After its controversial shutdown between 2013 and 2015, the organization was relaunched and has since expanded its programming. Today, ERT operates five television channels: a generalist channel, specialized channels dedicated to entertainment, news, and sports, and an international channel designed to serve 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 under direct government oversight. Its broadcasting activities are formally regulated by the National Broadcasting Council (ESR), a statutory media regulator composed of seven members appointed by the Greek Parliament.

Following a series of legislative amendments to ERT’s statute, the broadcaster was placed under the supervision of the Prime Minister’s office, rather than the Ministry of Digital Policy, consolidating executive control over its operations. The highest governing body within ERT is its seven-member board: five members are appointed by Parliament upon nomination by the government, while two are elected by the station’s staff.

In recent years, governance changes have raised concerns among observers about political influence, especially as key appointments, including the CEO, have been made directly by the government. As of 2024, Ilias Meshos serves as ERT’s Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Giannis Drosos, who had led the broadcaster during earlier phases of restructuring.

Source of funding and budget

ERT is primarily funded by the license fee, a levy collected via electricity bills, amounting to €3 per household per month. This fee is mandatory for all households in Greece that own a television set, making it the backbone of the broadcaster’s financial stability.

While government grants contribute to ERT’s revenue, they represent only a small portion of the organization’s overall budget. In 2020, ERT’s budget stood at €193.3 million, of which €187 million derived from license fee income. By 2022, the total budget had grown to €200 million, according to both company reports and local press.

Editorial independence

Although no legal provision formally requires ERT to provide preferential coverage to the government, the broadcaster has long been criticized for lacking editorial independence. Independent experts interviewed for this project in May 2022, August 2023, and June 2024 characterized ERT as functioning largely as a government mouthpiece. Journalists within the organisation have repeatedly alleged that management receives direct instructions from political authorities to alter or censor news coverage.

These accusations persisted throughout 2024 and into 2025, with media watchdogs and unions noting that editorial decisions at ERT often reflect government narratives rather than pluralistic viewpoints. The channel’s formal mission statement affirms its independence from the state, state bodies, private companies, and political parties. In theory, this independence is safeguarded by agreements of principles periodically signed between ERT and the Greek government. In practice, however, there is no independent oversight mechanism to monitor or validate compliance with these principles, leaving ERT’s autonomy vulnerable to political influence.

August 2025