EDT: Greece launches new public television after ERT closure

Greece’s new public television, EDT, has begun broadcasting news, more than two months after the government shut down the previous state broadcaster, ERT.

ERT’s 2,700 workers were all sacked in June, but carried on making shows for web streaming and satellite relay.

Greece’s conservative-led coalition said ERT cost too much in an economic crisis. A left-wing party withdrew from government in protest at the closure.

The European Broadcasting Union stopped ERT relays when EDT began airing news.

Greek authorities recently announced that more than 500 people had been hired on a two-month contract for the new state broadcaster.

Its first news programme was a two-hour broadcast that began at 08:00 local time. The show was presented by two journalists who used to work for ERT.

Since it went on air for the first time last month, EDT has been mainly showing old Greek black-and-white films.

Union representatives at ERT have vowed to continue their programming via the internet, the Associated Press news agency reported.

European Broadcasting Union (EBU) representatives had visited Greece frequently to meet government officials and express disagreement with the decision to close ERT.

Former employees at ERT’s headquarters had called on the EBU to keep the channel’s signal alive through its satellites.