As broadcasters draft plans for the upcoming television season, some proposals are veering into the realm of science fiction — or at least televisual fantasy. But the real thriller here isn’t scripted: it’s the steady exodus of viewers from traditional TV channels. This isn’t speculation — it’s the result of concrete strategic decisions that will soon reshape Greece’s domestic TV landscape in profound ways. More on that later.
From TikTok to Television: A Bumpy Ride
The launch of Cinderella Nights on ERT’s channel in Paiania marked the TV debut of a well-known influencer — one with no prior experience in broadcast television. Armed with digital savvy and a large online following, she entered the studio hoping her social media momentum would translate into live viewership. The station, in turn, hoped her fans would swap scrolling for remote control use — and tune in.
Yet the premiere revealed a stark reality: moving from TikTok’s rapid-fire, algorithm-driven clips to a full-hour TV show is no fairy tale. What works in under-60-second videos doesn’t always hold up on screen — especially without the crutch of likes, shares, or autoplay. Ratings for the show landed low — a modest number by the station’s entertainment programming standards — and the content itself quickly turned surreal, as if the whole premise had been ‘pumpkined’.
Two Metrics, One Message
Speaking of ratings: ERT publicly downplays Nielsen’s audience measurements, calling them outdated ‘ribbons’. Yet the public broadcaster still issues press releases celebrating high viewership — even on its streaming platform, ERTFLIX. That duality says something important: when it comes to audience measurement, convenience often trumps consistency.
Beyond the Stereotypes
It’s also worth noting that inside ERT’s headquarters in Agia Paraskevi, it’s not just ‘idle, underpaid, or obsolete staff’ — a reductive label sometimes tossed around. Many professionals there remain deeply committed, working diligently across TV and radio, despite bureaucratic inertia and systemic hurdles common in public institutions. Broad generalizations — and blanket dismissals — don’t just misrepresent reality; they risk becoming self-fulfilling justifications for drastic decisions, like the one taken by the government in June 2013.
Let Sleeping Cabinets Lie
And while we’re revisiting the past: some voices keep trying to reopen old political closets, citing ‘situations that have occurred’. But perhaps prudence lies in leaving those cabinets closed — especially since, as history shows, skeletons tend to leap out when doors are only half-open.