ERT employees: «ERT’s shutdown caused damage worth hundreds of millions»
Employees of Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation - ERT held a press conference for the Greek and foreign mass media today Tuesday, during which they pointed out the legal and organizational impediments towards the establishment of its successor as well as the immense cost for the Greek tax payer, caused by the closure of ERT. ERT’s shutdown meant a loss of 300 million euros for the Greek state. The original mistake of June 11th, and the ones that followed in order to “correct” it, can only be rectified in one way. The reversal of time to June 10th and the beginning of a sincere conversation on ERT’s future.
Major sports events – Cost: 63 million euros
Apart from the 2650 employees’ severance payment, ERT and the Greek state will suffer an injury of at least 63 million euros because of the breach of already signed contracts for the broadcast of major sports events. It is indicative that “2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil” broadcasting rights have already been paid for and amount to 13 million euros.
Lost profits from foreign cable and satellite providers been broadcasted through ERT World channel amount to 2 million euros. The sudden interruption of broadcast offers the opportunity to the providers to deny payment invoking the damage they have suffered because of their contracts having been broken.
ERT has submitted a proposition to NSRF (National Strategic Reference Framework) for developing its archive and the establishment of an Audiovisual Museum at its premises. The work has already been approved for a total of 9800000 euros funding. ERT’s disbandment invalidates the corporation’s participation in NSRF. Even if the broadcaster opens up again, it is almost certain that the delay will prove “fatal”.
Risk for ERT to be left without digital frequencies – Equipment costs 8 million euros
The risk for the public television to be left without any digital frequencies is more than imminent, given that the tender process is proclaimed for June 30th. The potential loss of frequencies and the obligatory broadcast of the remaining programmes through private network providers hold the danger of a total abolishment of ERT High Definition, a programme that have been fought against by commercial TV stations, and the ultimate damage to the equipment bought by ERT at a total cost of 8 million euros.
The cost of a potential loss of digital frequencies for ERT cannot be estimated only in financial terms. The most severe damage is for the public broadcaster to lose its place as an innovator. Moreover, the damage to the Greek film production industry is beyond estimation.