Hellenic Television

Greece?s revived public broadcaster ERT will begin TV and radio programs on Wednesday.

ERT was shut down in June 2012 and replaced with the smaller NERIT by the previous government but the SYRIZA-led coalition has decided to switch to the previous format.

The new state radio and television broadcaster (ERT) will reopen by June 11 said the channel’s president Dionysis Tsaknis. Meeting with the Greek Federation of Journalists, he said that events are being organized to celebrate the occasion. He said that the regional public channels will also reopen.

Singer-songwriter Dionysis Tsaknis was appointed president of state broadcaster ERT last Friday.

Born in Karditsa, central Greece, in 1954, Tsaknis studied economics and music in Athens. He has recorded 27 albums and collaborated with noted Greek vocalists and composers.

Meanwhile, journalist Lambis Tagmatarchis was appointed ERT?s chief executive officer.

The government is aiming to reopen state broadcaster ERT by next Monday, according to reports.

Parliament voted late on Wednesday to reopen ERT, which was shut down in June 2013 and later replaced by its current trimmed down version, NERIT.

Greek MPs have voted to reopen the state-owned, public radio and TV broadcaster ERT which was shut down in June 2013 amid harsh austerity measures.

The leftist government of PM Alexis Tsipras, elected in January, had vowed to end ERT's blackout that has gone on for nearly two years after budget restrictions forced the previous administration to close it down.

The Greek Parliament?s public administration committee will on Tuesday begin discussing the draft legislation the government submitted to the House this week foreseeing the reopening of public broadcaster ERT.

Almost 3,000 employees lost their jobs when ERT was shut down in June 2013.

The government on Wednesday submitted to Parliament a bill that paves the way for public broadcaster ERT, which was shut down overnight in June 2013, to reopen.