æz ðə sˈɛkənd tˈɪɹ ʌvðə ɡɹˈiːk fˈʊtbɔːl lˈiːɡ sˈɪstəm, ðə bˈeɪɾə ˈɛθnɪki wʌz fˈɔːɹməli ɪstˈæblɪʃt ɪnðə fˈɔːl ʌv nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti tˈuː, ɹᵻplˈeɪsɪŋ ðɪ ɪnfˈɔːɹməl ɡɹˈiːk ˌɛfsˌiːˈeɪ wˈɪnɚz tʃˈæmpiənʃˌɪp, wˌɪtʃ æt ðə tˈaɪm hæd tɹˈaɪd vˈɛɹiəs ɛkspˌɛɹɪmˈɛntəl fˈɔːɹmæts təwˈɔːɹdz ɪstˈæblɪʃɪŋ ɐ sˈɛkənd nˈæʃənəl fˈʊtbɔːl dᵻvˈɪʒən.
As the second tier of the Greek football league system, the Beta Ethniki was formally established in the fall of 1962, replacing the informal Greek FCA Winners' Championship, which at the time had tried various experimental formats towards establishing a second national football Division.