ERT1
ERT1 (Greek: ΕΡΤ1) is the flagship free-to-air television channel of the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT), Greece's state-owned public service broadcaster.[1] Launched on 23 February 1966, it pioneered regular television broadcasting in Greece, initially under the National Radio Foundation before integrating into ERT's structure.[2] The channel delivers a generalist schedule encompassing news bulletins, cultural documentaries, educational content, and entertainment programs, funded primarily through a household levy and state allocations.[3] ERT1's history reflects broader tensions in Greek public media, marked by a contentious shutdown on 11 June 2013 by the conservative-led coalition government as an austerity measure to cut public spending amid the sovereign debt crisis, which eliminated over 2,600 jobs and ceased operations abruptly. The closure faced immediate legal challenges, with Greece's Council of State ruling it unconstitutional due to lack of parliamentary approval, prompting worker occupations of facilities and public protests. Operations resumed on 11 June 2015 under a left-wing SYRIZA-led government, rebranding ET1 as ERT1 with renewed emphasis on public service mandates, though criticisms of political influence persisted across administrations. Despite these disruptions, ERT1 maintains a central role in national discourse, broadcasting key events and contributing to cultural preservation, while navigating ongoing debates over funding independence and editorial autonomy in a landscape dominated by private outlets.[1]