GREECE / Private channels will have to pay for a broadcasting licence

The Greek government has announced plans to initiate licensing agreements for national private channels which broadcast in an unencoded, “free-to-air” format.

An international call for offers was launched, with bidding open until July 4^th. Only four high definition broadcast licenses will be allocated, although at present the country has eight private channels. So at least four of them are going to disappear soon.

The licenses will be valid for 10 years and cost a minimum of €3 million. According to the rules of the tender, to bid for a license at the auction a channel must have solid financial reserves, be able to guarantee the employees’ wages and be transparent about its assets.

The government’s official aim in drastically changing the Greek broadcasting landscape is to give priority to the most economically viable channels and allow them to collect more advertising revenue.

Most of the present private channels (Alpha, Antenna, Epsilon TV, Mega Channel, Skai, Star Channel) have already launched an appeal to the State Council objecting to this way of granting broadcasting licenses. Their appeal was heard on July 4^th.

Sources: BBC News, Business Day Live, Ekathimerini, HR-Net, GR Reporter