Poll says government did not handle TV license auction well

More than seven out of 10 (74.2 percent) Greeks said the government did not handle well the nationwide broadcast license auction last month, according to a poll conducted by MRB on behalf of STAR TV, which was one of the unsuccessful bidders.

According to the poll, conducted on September 20, 21, 76.7 percent also said the auction, which raised 246 million euros, would not put an end to corruption and under-the-table deals between media moguls, bankers and politicians, 82.8 percent said there should have been better background checks of those bidding for the four licenses while 66.7 percent expressed reservation over the procedure followed in the auction

The poll results came amid serious concerns about one of the winning bidders, who is the son of a construction magnate linked to ruling SYRIZA, and who is under investigation for tax evasion.

Critics have slammed the government, saying the auction was nothing but an effort to replace established TV barons, who have clashed with it in the past, with others more favorably-inclined to the ruling coalition.

The tender reduced the number of nationwide licenses from eight to four.