European Public Service Media Welcome Greek Court Ruling Restoring ERT Signal

Geneva (ots/PRNewswire) -

European public service media (PSM) today welcomed a ruling by the
top administrative court in Greece ordering the Greek government
restore national broadcaster ERT to air immediately.

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

The Council of State suspended the government decree ordering the
closure of ERT last Tuesday (11/6). It also recognized that the Greek
public service broadcaster has a key role to play in providing
information, education and entertainment to the Greek people and the
diaspora.

The Council of State ordered the Greek government to restore the
ERT signal and take all appropriate organizational measures to
continue broadcasting through the ERT frequencies and internet sites
until a new public service broadcaster is established.

Jean Paul Philippot, President of the European Broadcasting Union
(EBU) - which has been at the forefront of international efforts to
return ERT to air - said that the court had delivered the right
result.

"This is a positive turn because it means public service media
will return to Greece," he said. "We welcome the news that ERT will
reopen, and we offer our support to build a new, successful,
independent and sustainable public broadcaster that will contribute
to pluralism and diversity in Greek society."

Since ERT's dramatic shut-down, the EBU has consistently called
for its Greek Member to be allowed to resume broadcasting services
and give the Greek public rightful access to public service
information.

The case against the government closure of ERT was brought by
POSPERT, a union representing ERT employees - 2,700 of whom were laid
off at a stroke last Tuesday night.

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 @Euroradio_EBU

For further information, please contact:
MICHELLE ROVERELLI, Head of Communications
T +41(0)22-717-2204
M +41(0)79-647-1724
E roverelli@ebu.ch

Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130613/621657

ots Originaltext: European Broadcasting Union (EBU)
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de