EBU Puts Shelved Greek Member ERT Back on Air

AsiaNet 53394

GENEVA, June 14, 2013 /PRN=KYODO JBN/ --

     The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) today took the step of putting Greek

broadcaster ERT's news coverage back on air, allowing Greek satellite

subscribers to watch NET, the station's news channel, on television.

    Until this afternoon, ERT's output was only available via a live stream on

the EBU website, redirected from ERT's signal, which was carried back to EBU

headquarters in Geneva. But EBU engineers have implemented a workaround to

retransmit ERT's signal via the EBU's Athens earth station.

    (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130613/621657 )

    At around 3.45pm (CET) NET's news programmes, being produced at ERT's

Thessaloniki studios despite the government order to cease operations,

reappeared on Greek screens.

    The signal is also being made available globally on these satellites:

Hotbird 13A in Europe, APSTAR 7 in Asia, Intelsat 19 and Optus D2 in Oceania.

    The decision to take steps to keep ERT on air was made by the EBU Executive

Board on Wednesday.

    About the European Broadcasting Union (EBU)

    The EBU is the world's foremost alliance of public service media

organizations, with Members in 56 countries in Europe and beyond.

    The EBU's mission is to defend the interests of public service media and to

promote their indispensable contribution to modern society. It is the point of

reference for industry knowledge and expertise.

    The EBU operates EUROVISION and EURORADIO.

    EUROVISION is the media industry's premier distributor and producer of top

quality live sport and news, as well as entertainment, culture and music

content.

    EURORADIO enhances public service radio through the exchange of music,

professional networking and the promotion of digital and hybrid radio - to

ensure radio remains a key protagonist in a multimedia world.

    The EUROVISION/EURORADIO satellite and fibre network is the largest and

most reliable in the world directly plugged in to public service media

everywhere.

    web: http://www.ebu.ch

    Twitter: @EBU_Eurovision [http://twitter.com/EBU_Eurovision ],  

             @Euroradio_EBU [https://twitter.com/Euroradio_EBU ]

    CONTACT: Ben Steward

             Communications Officer

             T +41-22-717-2213

             M +41-79-244-6535

             steward@ebu.ch

     SOURCE: European Broadcasting Union (EBU)