The government is considering taking advantage of the fees paid by taxpayers for the public broadcast services of ERT, amidst increasing pressure from the troika representatives to proceed with dismissals from the public sector.
Despite older promises of reducing the license fee, the government has stated it will continue as is. Furthermore, a greater proportion of ERT’s estimated 300 million euros revenue will be diverted to other needs in the State budget. At present about 25% of ERT’s revenue is diverted to renewable energy sources.
Rumors about “restructuring” of ERT’s services have been circulating since the days when Ilias Mosialos was in charge of ERT. The latest rumors suggest the closure of regional broadcasting stations, shrinking ET1 and reducing the cost of production for NET.
Government sources also estimate that about 600-700 ERT employees will be dismissed, mostly fro administrative duties. A program of voluntary departure will also come into effect, since about 700 ERT employees will retire by 2015.
At present ERT employs 2,780 people over five television stations (ET1, NET, ET3, ERT World and ERT HD), 29 radio stations, websites and weekly magazine, as well as the National Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of Contemporary Music.
