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Greek media strike over TV license overhaul

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras listens to French President Francois Hollande during their meeting at Maximos Mansion in Athens, Friday, Oct. 23, 2015. Hollande called Thursday for talks on relieving Greece’s crushing debt load and investment, in combination with the harsh austerity measures international creditors have demanded over the past five years in return for vital rescue loans. (Yannis Kolesidis/Pool photo via AP)
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras listens to French President Francois Hollande during their meeting at Maximos Mansion in Athens, Friday, Oct. 23, 2015. Hollande called Thursday for talks on relieving Greece’s crushing debt load and investment, in combination with the harsh austerity measures international creditors have demanded over the past five years in return for vital rescue loans. (Yannis Kolesidis/Pool photo via AP)

By Associated Press 1 min read

ATHENS, Greece (AP) – Greece’s largest journalist union has called a 24-hour strike, halting news programs on private and state television, over government plans to overhaul television licenses next year.

The strike on Friday coincided with a highly anticipated visit to Greece by French President Francois Hollande, which state TV continued to cover.

Greece’s government says it will hold auctions for all private TV licenses next year, imposing stricter financial standards for broadcasters. The journalist union ESIEA said the measures “fail to safeguard the journalistic profession.”

It was the latest confrontation between unions and Prime Minister Alexis Tsipas’ left-wing government, after a general strike was called for Nov. 12 against new austerity measures.