Greece: Challenges in the Digital Era

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)     A conference on the “Digital Dividend” took place (February 24) organised by the Hellenic Communications and Post Commission. Minister of Transport and Communications Evripidis Stylianidis, Deputy Interior Minister responsible for the media Konstantinos Gioulekas, President of the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation Christos Panagopoulos, directors of regulatory bodies across Europe, corporate executives and experts in the field of telecommunications  addressed the event.  The conference focused on Greece’s regulatory framework and  elaborated on the technological applications, as well as the prospects in terms of business opportunities. The ‘digital dividend’ is the part of the radio spectrum which will be freed up when analogue television (occupying large part of the spectrum) is switched off and replaced by digital (which utilises far less).  Greece has declared 2009 “Year of Broadband, Telecommunications and Mass Media Convergence.” Ministry of Transport and Communications: ww.yme.gr; Secretariat General for Communication-Information: Legislation and Audiovisual Policy & About Greece- Mass Media   EETT: Radio Spectrum Availability for New Mobile Telecommunications Services   European Commission- Communications: EU Member States on course for analogue terrestrial TV switch-off & Digital Broadcasting- National Switchover Plans

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Europarliament TV

(GREEK NEW AGENDA)  The European Parliament now has its own web television station – called EuroparlTV – with programming in over 20 languages. The station was inaugurated yesterday by European Parliament President, Hans-Gert Pottering and Vice-President Alejo Vidal-Quadras, as well as Katerina Batzeli, MEP, Chairwoman of the Committee on Culture and Education at the European Parliament. The station broadcasts via the site www.europarltv.europa.eu, and offers four channels: Your Parliament, Your Voice, Young Europe, and Parliament Live.

Greece’s Television and Radio Frequency Charts

On July 24 2008, Greek Minister of State Theodoros Roussopoulos and Transport and Communications Minister Kostis Hatzidakis, held a press confrence for the presentation of the frequency chart for digital television tranmission and the frequency chart for analoque radio broadcasting in Greece. The digital broadcast trial period will be launched on November 1, 2008 with digital integration completed by 2015 at the latest, Roussopoulos said, adding that the EU is urging members to adopt digital technology by 2012. The digital frequencies chart is a serious attempt to put the broadcast sector in order, Roussopouloos said, stressing that consultations will be held with all interested parties before any joint ministerial decisions are issued setting the necessary preconditions. Read the transcript of the press conference in english  

Voting for Greatest Greeks

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  In search of the most influential Greek personality of all times, Skai TV is launching a TV series under the title “Great Greeks,” following the example of BBC’s own “Great Britons” series. The public is free to vote for the most eminent Greeks of the past and present until May 7, via internet or text message. The top 10 names will be showcased individually through a documentary programme. The selection is vast and includes personalities who have left their mark on all aspects of public life such as politics, culture, arts, sports and others. More information www.skai.gr/greatgreeks (in Greek); Kathimerini daily: Search is on for Greatest Greeks, past or present; Foundation of the Hellenic World: Hellenic History 

Greek Media Takeovers

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   Greece’s second-biggest provider of web services Forthnet gained Naspers‘s Greek and Cypriot pay-TV unit NetMed NV, known for its subscriber satellite service Nova, for €490 million. Naspers is a multinational media company located in South Africa, with significant operations in Greece through NetMed. Forthnet S.A., was established in October 1995 by the Foundation for Technology and Research and Minoan Lines S.A. The company was listed on the main market of the Athens Stock Exchange in the year 2000. It was the first company to introduce the Internet in Greece and currently has a large portfolio of Internet services. Through this acquisition, Forthnet will be able to offer high-speed Internet, TV and phone services with nationwide coverage, while it turns into a considerable media company. Bloomberg: Naspers Plans Internet Purchases as Ad Growth Slows; Secretariat General of Information: About Greece, Telecommunications