New chief executive for Greek pubcaster

Vassilis Costopoulos

The Greek government has appointed Vassilis Costopoulis as the new CEO of public broadcaster ERT.

Costopoulis, a lawyer, was director of ERT’s legal department from 1988-93. While at the pubcaster, he served as a member of the permanent legal committee and the specialised legal committee on European Affairs at the EBU and was deputy member of the administrative council for a number of years.

Costopoulis’ appointment was confirmed last month when his nomination was approved by a parliamentary committee. Greek minister of digital policy Nikos Pappas said that Costopoulos was chosen from a field of 32 candidates because of his long experience at ERT. Costopoulos plans to develop a new strategic plan to develop the broadcaster.

Costopoulis has said he plans to strengthen ERT’s regional stations and will build partnerships with Euronews and Cypriot TV. he also plans to develop an English-language news service.

Costopoulis’ appointment comes after a tumultuous few years for the Greek pubcaster, which was controversially shut down by the Greek government in 2013 and plans for a replacement service NERIT, put in train. ERT was reinstated as the country’s public broadcaster by the new government in 2015.