ERT shutdown, 12 months on

 NERIT proves doubters wrong while unionists keep trying to score political points

By George Georgakopoulos

“Andres Iniesta’s shot went straight toward the Germany fans, probably to avenge their jeering.” Watching a rerun of the 2010 World Cup match between Spain and Germany on new state TV channel NERIT Sports and listening again to the inane commentary brought home the sense of relief from the demise of one of the most institutionalized of institutions to have dogged the Greek public sector.

A year has elapsed since the dramatic shutdown of national broadcaster ERT on June 11, 2013, and over those 12 months the reality has sunk in, revealing the real motives of everyone involved.

Cornered by its international creditors demanding public sector layoffs and angry at the countless strikes by ERT unionists (POSPERT) trying to cling on to their privileges, the government suspended the state broadcaster's operations and within five weeks replaced it with a temporary project named Public Television (DT). Last month, as promised, a new broadcaster (NERIT) started providing TV services to Greeks at home and abroad, proving wrong those who had said the government did not want a state broadcaster.

When the government pulled the plug on ERT, a chorus of opposition parties, unions and even international media (especially state-funded broadcasters) protested what they saw as an undemocratic move. Indeed it was ugly, but time has proven several things: that it was necessary to do away with an ultra-powerful union which instead of serving employees had a clear party political agenda; that Greece has definitely not been left without a state broadcaster but is building a new, robust and far less lavish corporation at arm’s length from the government...