Dateline: Lost in transmission

Staff at Greece's public broadcaster were determined not to be silenced, despite a shut-down mid-broadcast by the troubled government.

Former ERT employees outside the broadcaster's offices. (Getty)

Back in June, after 70 years of operation, the public broadcaster in Greece suddenly shut down -- the plug pulled by the Greek government.

In mid-broadcast, television screens across the country went black.

Overnight, Greece lost three TV channels, over 20 radio stations, two orchestras and a choir - and 2,600 employees - found themselves out of work.

But the story didn't end there.

Amid huge protests and a political crisis, a five-month stand-off played out, finally reaching an endpoint this month when riot police stormed the studio and ordered workers out.

Dateline's Amos Roberts was in Athens for the final, dramatic days of the most unusual stand-off.

He spoke with Ron Sutton.

(Click on the audio tab above to hear the full interview)