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Greece suspends state broadcaster ERT to save money Greece suspends state broadcaster ERT to save money
(about 3 hours later)
The Greek government has announced that it will shut down the radio and TV services of the state broadcaster ERT. The Greek government has shut down the public broadcaster ERT, calling it a "haven of waste".
A government spokesman said transmissions would cease early on Wednesday. Viewers watching the news on the main TV channel saw the screens go to black late on Tuesday evening.
All employees, numbering at least 2,500, will be suspended until the company reopens "as soon as possible". All employees have been suspended pending a re-organisation. Thousands of people held a protest against the decision outside ERT headquarters.
It is the latest move in successive rafts of spending cuts and tax rises that the government hope will lead the country out of recession. It is the latest move in rafts of spending cuts and tax rises aimed at leading the country out of recession.
"ERT is a case of an exceptional lack of transparency and incredible extravagance. This ends now," government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou said, according to the AFP news agency. "ERT is a case of an exceptional lack of transparency and incredible extravagance. This ends now," government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou said earlier.
While all employees would be sacked, he added they would be paid compensation and would be able to apply for work when the corporation relaunches as a smaller, independent public broadcaster. While all 2,500 employees would be sacked, he added they would be paid compensation and would be able to apply for work when the corporation relaunches as a smaller, independent public broadcaster.
The head of ERT's foreign desk, Odin Linardatou, said the announcement took journalists by surprise.The head of ERT's foreign desk, Odin Linardatou, said the announcement took journalists by surprise.
"We are very shocked, we are angry, it was a decision that we didn't expect, we expected maybe more cuts," she told the BBC's Newshour programme."We are very shocked, we are angry, it was a decision that we didn't expect, we expected maybe more cuts," she told the BBC's Newshour programme.
"What I cannot accept in a democracy is that Greece will not have a public broadcaster.""What I cannot accept in a democracy is that Greece will not have a public broadcaster."
Riot police have been deployed in Athens as thousands of people have gathered outside ERT's headquarters to protest against the decision.
Voice of GreeceVoice of Greece
Authorities confirmed that the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT) had been formally disbanded, as transmissions gradually stopped on Tuesday night.
The Finance Ministry said authorities would "secure'" the corporation's facilities.
Unions also voiced strong opposition to the move.Unions also voiced strong opposition to the move.
An engineer at the broadcaster's multimedia department who gave his name as Yannis said: "The government announced that channels will shut down at midnight - after that the screens will go black. An engineer at the broadcaster's multimedia department who gave his name as Yannis said: "From tonight I will be unemployed. It is a complete shock."
"According to the government, from tonight I will be unemployed. It is a complete shock. In four hours' time I will not have a job."
ERT is funded by a direct payment of 4.30 euros (£3.80; $6) added monthly to electricity bills.ERT is funded by a direct payment of 4.30 euros (£3.80; $6) added monthly to electricity bills.
Its supporters say ERT provides an essential service to the Greek people.Its supporters say ERT provides an essential service to the Greek people.
The broadcaster runs three domestic TV channels, four national radio stations, as well regional radio stations and an external service, Voice of Greece.The broadcaster runs three domestic TV channels, four national radio stations, as well regional radio stations and an external service, Voice of Greece.
In April, parliament passed a bill which would see 15,000 state employees lose their jobs by the end of next year.In April, parliament passed a bill which would see 15,000 state employees lose their jobs by the end of next year.
The law was a condition for Greece to receive its next tranche of loans from international lenders worth 8.8bn euros (£7.4bn; $11.4bn).The law was a condition for Greece to receive its next tranche of loans from international lenders worth 8.8bn euros (£7.4bn; $11.4bn).
Since 2010, the European Union and the IMF have promised more than 200bn euros in lending for Greece, the first country to be hit by the eurozone crisis.Since 2010, the European Union and the IMF have promised more than 200bn euros in lending for Greece, the first country to be hit by the eurozone crisis.
The government has imposed tough austerity measures in return for aid, including cuts in pay and pensions leading to numerous general strikes.The government has imposed tough austerity measures in return for aid, including cuts in pay and pensions leading to numerous general strikes.