What is ERT? A Brief History
ERT (Ellinikí Radiofonía Tileórasi — Ελληνική Ραδιοφωνία Τηλεόραση) is Greece's public broadcaster, equivalent to the BBC in the UK or PBS in the US. Founded in 1938 as a radio service, it has been the backbone of Greek media for over 85 years.
ERT went through a major crisis in June 2013 when the Greek government abruptly shut it down during the debt crisis, replacing it briefly with NERIT. It was relaunched on June 11, 2015, and has since rebuilt as a modern broadcaster with free-to-air HD channels and online streaming.
ERT is funded by a monthly license fee of €3 collected through electricity bills — making it one of the cheapest public broadcasters in Europe. Inside Greece, all ERT channels are free-to-air and stream live on ert.gr. Outside Greece, however, most content is geo-blocked — which is where IPTV comes in.
ERT Channels Explained: What Each One Broadcasts
ERT1 — The Flagship Channel
Launched February 23, 1966, ERT1 is the main generalist channel. It broadcasts news bulletins at 10:00, 12:00, 15:00, 18:00, 21:00, and midnight. Between news, you'll find live current affairs programs, classic Greek movies, game shows, drama series, and late-night talk shows. Weekends feature documentaries and cultural programming.
Best for: News junkies, Greek cinema fans, daily entertainment
ERT2 — Culture & Sports
ERT2 focuses on cultural programming, sports coverage, and educational content. It carries major sporting events including Greek football (Super League), basketball (Basket League), and athletics. Cultural programming includes theater recordings, art documentaries, and music specials.
Best for: Sports fans, culture enthusiasts, educational viewing
ERT3 — Northern Greece & Regional
Based in Thessaloniki, ERT3 serves Northern Greece with regional news, local programming, and content reflecting Macedonia and Thrace. It's the go-to channel for news from Thessaloniki, regional politics, and local stories you won't find on Athens-centric channels.
Best for: Northern Greece diaspora, regional news, local culture
ERT World — For the Greek Diaspora
ERT World was specifically created for the estimated 5+ million Greeks living abroad. It broadcasts a curated mix of highlights from ERT1, ERT2, and ERT3 — news, sports, entertainment, and cultural programming — designed for diaspora viewers in different time zones. However, even ERT World can experience geo-restrictions in certain regions.
Best for: Greeks abroad who want a daily connection to home
Why Do You Need IPTV to Watch ERT?
If you're in Greece, you don't — ERT streams free at ert.gr and broadcasts over-the-air. But if you're in Cyprus, Germany, the US, Australia, or anywhere outside Greece, here's the problem:
ERT's live stream on ert.gr is geo-restricted. Outside Greece, many programs show a "content not available in your region" message, especially sports content with broadcasting rights limitations.
ERT World, while meant for diaspora, doesn't carry all content from the domestic channels. Sports rights, in particular, are rarely included in the international feed.
IPTV services like ours carry all four ERT channels (ERT1, ERT2, ERT3, ERT World) without geo-restrictions, alongside 15,000+ other channels — so you also get Nova Sports, Cosmote TV, Alpha, MEGA, SKAI, and all Cypriot channels in one subscription.
What's on ERT? Popular Programs
News & Current Affairs
Six daily news bulletins on ERT1, plus in-depth political analysis, parliamentary coverage, and live press conferences. ERT3 adds regional news from Northern Greece.
Sports
Greek Super League matches, Basket League, national team games, athletics championships, and Olympic coverage. ERT2 is the primary sports channel.
Greek Cinema & Series
Classic and modern Greek films, original drama series, and comedy productions. ERT is one of the few channels that regularly airs classic black-and-white Greek cinema from the golden era.
Music & Culture
ERT maintains its own music ensembles and regularly broadcasts concerts, theater performances, and cultural events. The Athens State Orchestra and ERT National Symphony frequently appear on ERT2.
How to Watch ERT via IPTV: Step by Step
Choose your plan
Pick a monthly, quarterly, or yearly subscription. All plans include ERT1, ERT2, ERT3, and ERT World alongside thousands of other channels.
Install an IPTV app
Use any IPTV player — TiviMate, IPTV Smarters, STB Emu, VLC, or your Smart TV's built-in player. We provide setup guides for every device.
Enter your credentials
After purchase, you receive M3U playlist link or Xtream Codes login. Enter these in your IPTV app and the channels load automatically.
Find ERT in the channel list
Navigate to the Greek channels category. ERT1, ERT2, ERT3, and ERT World are listed alongside all other Greek and Cypriot channels.
ERT via IPTV vs Other Options
| Method | Channels | Works Abroad? | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| ert.gr | ERT1, ERT2, ERT3 | Partially (geo-blocked sports) | Free |
| ERT World (satellite) | Curated mix only | Yes, but limited content | Satellite dish required |
| VPN + ert.gr | ERT1, ERT2, ERT3 | Yes, but slow/unreliable | €5-12/mo |
| IPTV (our service) | All ERT + 15,000+ channels | Yes, worldwide | From €9.99/mo |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ERT free to watch?
In Greece, yes — ERT is publicly funded (€3/month via electricity bills) and broadcasts free over-the-air and on ert.gr. Outside Greece, the live stream is partially geo-blocked, especially sports content.
Can I watch ERT3 live outside Greece?
ERT3's live stream on ert.gr is often geo-restricted. Through our IPTV service, you can watch ERT3 live from anywhere — Cyprus, the US, Australia, Germany, or wherever you are.
What devices can I use to watch ERT via IPTV?
Any device with an IPTV app: Amazon Firestick, Android TV, Samsung/LG Smart TVs, iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows PC, MAG boxes, and more. See our setup guide for step-by-step instructions.
Do you include ERT radio stations too?
Our IPTV service focuses on TV channels. For ERT radio (ERA, Kosmos, Trito), you can listen free worldwide at ertecho.gr — these are not geo-restricted.
Watch All ERT Channels from Anywhere
ERT1, ERT2, ERT3, ERT World — plus Nova Sports, Cosmote TV, Alpha, MEGA, SKAI, and all Cypriot channels. Try free for 24 hours.