Hey sorry if this is a weird question but I'm learning Greek rn (mostly through Duolingo and self-study) and I was wondering if you had any suggestions of where to watch tv and movies in Greek? I don't have an ear for the language yet and would like to change that. (If you have any suggestions of what to watch I'd appreciate that too!) Ευχαριστώ!
Hello! It's not a weird question at all, there have actually been several people asking this!
What I have recommended in all these cases is ERTFLIX, the ott streaming and on demand platform of the Greek state tv. It is totally for free. The only requirement for people abroad is to make an account, also for free.
ERTFLIX streams the following channels: ERTNEWS, ERT1 (the major of the state channels), ERT2, ERT3, ERTSPORTS-1, -2, -3, ERTkids, ERTMUSIC, ERTWORLD (the international satellite Greek channel), ΒΟΥΛΗTV (the tv channel of the Hellenic parliament), RIK SAT (the international satellite tv channel of Cyprus) and the Greek broadcasting of the European channel Euronews. It also has the foreign TV channels DW and TV5 MONDE. It also has eleven radio stations (for all music tastes and sports).
Their On Demand service is even better. ERTFLIX features a large number of original ERT Greek series and old and newer Greek movies. It also has a wide selection of famous and less known foreign movies which have Greek subtitles (we don't do dubbing in live action movies in Greece, we hate it). Totally stuff you would pay for in other OTT platforms. There are also numerous documentaries, both Greek and foreign ones with Greek subtitles. ERTFLIX also broadcasts for free Greek history documentaries made by COSMOTE History Channel which is from a subscription Greek OTT platform. Honestly, ERTFLIX rocks.
ERTFLIX also keeps a large archive of the state media's old documentaries, shows, interviews, recorded concerts, movies etc, some going decades back.
My personal recs from ERT Greek series are: Έρημη Χώρα, Καρτ Ποστάλ and Αγάπη Παράνομη (the last one has some very heavy themes, don't watch if you want something more lighthearted).
The platform's menu is available in both Greek and English.
Here's where you can find ERTFLIX:
I am aware I always sound like I am the creator of ERTFLIX or something XD but I am sorry I just love it and it provides for free stuff others would charge for. Given that it is the state's channels, they also incline towards what you'd call "quality content" and I think this is particularly helpful for one who seeks to improve in the language through the consumption of this content. But it also has some more mainstream options like thrillers and blockbusters, just not as many as the wordy dramas, so to speak.)
I think this is where you should start. Why go to paid platforms when the free one is just as good, if not better, actually? I could also...ehm... make you aware of the existence of the site Greek-Movies, which has every single Greek movie, series, show, theater and documentary under the sun but it's all in Greek and like it happens with most... you know.. sailors of the Caribbean sites... you have to know what you're looking for otherwise you'll get lost. Check it out though.
Also, watch on youtube the show Eisai to tairi mou (You're My Soulmate). It's a fantastic rom-com series and the person who uploaded it, George, has added perfect English subtitles. He has done a very professional work. George has also his own website, where he offers subscriptions for watching famous Greek shows and some movies with his added English subtitles. If you are willing to pay a fee for it but are unsure of the quality, I can guarantee for the accuracy of his subtitles and for the fact that he has chosen the best of the best Greek series there are. Below I add the first episode of the series that is available for free in its entirety (30 episodes) on YouTube. In George's youtube page you will find more information about how to access his other projects.
My recommendation is to start with ERTFLIX and this free show on YouTube and when you see you develop an ear for it and liking it you can move on to paid content or the more targeted searches in the sailor site! Have fun!
*If you are interested in it, check out for Greek Radio apps, Greek audiobooks and podcasts (I always recommend the LIFO podcasts), you can find them in all the places where you find your podcasts. But maybe those are for when you get a little more advanced in the language.
