The prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis He visited the ERT facilities, where he was informed of the digital applications of ERTNEWS and ERTFLIX aimed at improving access for people with visual and acoustic disability, with particular emphasis on timely and valid information. During the visit, the prime minister had the opportunity to tour public television, talk to workers and interview the first program.
Mr Mitsotakis was accepted by ERT President Yiannis Papadopoulos and CEO Costas Papavassiliou, while he was accompanied by government officials. In the meeting room of the Information Directorate, the new era was presented to the Prime Minister in ERT’s accessibility.
Public television introduces the option of choosing Greek subtitles in real time for Ertnews viewers, initially in three daily news releases. In addition, more than 1,750 hours of subtitled program are available, including news, fiction and documentary series, as well as audio description.
The prime minister was informed of the utilization of ERT artificial intelligence to enhance accessibility and talked to ERTNEWS ‘workers.
During the visit, the Prime Minister said: “I would also like Mr. President, Mr. CEO, to express my great satisfaction because, once again, ERT is pioneering innovation, but also in equality and inclusion.
Indeed, Mr President, we had discussed the issue of real -time automatic subtitle for people with hearing problems before a relatively short period of time that you had put us this pending, which still existed for the implementation of our strategy.
And we are glad that today we are happy to be together again after the announcement of the deafness allowance -for which I realize that the platform opens these days, which was a constant demand of our fellow citizens with deafness or hearing problems -to come to this and we can come up with it. Proving once again that ERT can and should be at the forefront of both the digital transformation and the utilization of all modern technological tools.
Automatic subtitle, then, in Greek and trials and in English, in the newsletters of 18:00, 21:00 and 12:00, a very important ERT gesture, which comes and covers a constant request, let me, Mr. President, to say not only of our community, We may want to watch TV without listening to the sound.
Consider that one may want to workout in the gym and at that time listening to their music, but at the same time he wants to be able to see and read the newsletter with automatic subtitle. So, I think it is a service that is not only for people with disabilities but potentially to every Greek citizen.
And very important, of course, to emphasize that subtitle services already exist on the ERTFLIX platform, another ERT innovation that has been embraced by Greek citizens and another proof that ERT can actually be in the lead, at the forefront of the technological revolution, pioneer.
And I think this is something we see as a whole in the image that the radio station exudes.
To emphasize, for example, to those who do not know it, that we now have a new administration, president and chief executive, who are both from the ASEP bidding process under Law 5062, which we voted in in 2023, a meritocratic process.
I want to congratulate you and wish you good luck in taking up your duties. With the support of the relevant Deputy Minister, the procedures were completed very soon.
And we have a lot of things to do in ERT. I want to focus especially on the great success of ERT News, which was a bet on state television. I have seen with great interest that the numbers of those who are watching the ERT 24 -hour news program are constantly increasing, but I also see that ERT overall is increasing its share of television viewing, which proves that one can combine – as you said – the quality of the commercial character.
So we will then have the opportunity to see ERT’s new Newsroom, which has nothing to envy from Newsrooms not Greek stations, but – I would say – other public European broadcasting organizations.
And to tell you, having made a communication with the minister, recognizing the very proper and good management that has been done on ERT finances, I am absolutely open to discuss an adjustment of ERT staff, so that we can somehow cover it. The above details will be announced by the competent Deputy Minister in the coming days.
It is very important for the Greek citizen to know that this fee he pays each month has real reciprocity. Because it returns to a state television that is objective, it is impartial, it is qualitative, it is included and can also offer a content that, I would say, will not be offered by other private channels. Because it may not have the necessary commercialism, it is an essential ingredient of a public television.
So I will say good luck. I want to say that this is an effort that started in 2019 and from the previous administration. Step by step I think we build ERT that Greek citizens want, which we also dream of and leave behind an ERT of the past, which I think did not serve these central goals we have set as priorities for public radio and television.
“It is the inclusion in practice,” said Konstantinos Simpsis, president of the Deaf Federation of Greece, adding that it is important not to exclude people with disabilities as citizens of Greek society, while thanking the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister for the Prime Minister and the Government for
Kyriakos Mitsotakis also had the opportunity to visit the editorial room and talk to the workers, journalists, technicians and administrative staff of public broadcasting.
Finally, he emphasized that there is no automated disciplinary consequences for those students who have messed up freedom of expression with the organized violence. “It is another to express yourself freely within an institution that encourages freedom of expression, another to think that you can enter, to tramp, to break others in the wood, because in this way you want to impose your opinion. If you belong to the second category you should be eliminated from the public university. And in this we will insist a lot and find a way to do so, using all the tools that the law gives us available, “Mr Mitsotakis said.