Eesti Televisioon
Encyclopedia
Eesti Televisioon (Estonian Television) is the national public
television station
of Estonia
. It made its first broadcast on 19 July 1955.
The bulk of ETV's funding comes from government grant-in-aid
, around 15% of which is in turn funded by the fees paid by Estonian commercial broadcasters in return for their exclusive right to screen television advertising. ETV stopped showing commercials in 1998-1999 and has again ceased doing so since 2002: its low-cost advertising rates were damaging the ability of commercial broadcasters to operate. The introduction of a system of broadcast receiver licences
, payable by viewers, was considered, but ultimately rejected in the face of public opposition.
On 1 January 1993, ETV was admitted as a full active member of the European Broadcasting Union
.
In 2002, ETV hosted the Eurovision Song Contest
.
On 9 January 2006, ETV launched an Internet news service called ETV24. Broadcasting news on Internet, teletext, and on ETV at night.
On 1 June 2007, ETV controversially merged with the Estonian Radio Service (ER) to form the Estonian Public Broadcasting or Eesti Rahvusringhääling
, ERR for short. Created for under the new Estonian National Broadcasting Act, passed by the Estonian Parliament on 18 January 2007. So, ETV24 was replaced with ERR Uudised (ERR News) However, ETV has so far continued broadcasting under its original name.
On 1 July 2010, Estonia completed their transition to digital terrestrial television
, finishing all analogue services. An informational on-screen message indicating this was visible on the old ETV frequencies until 5 July 2010.
The Estonian Public Broadcasting Act regulates ERR's actions, through the Estonian Broadcasting Council or Ringhäälingunõukogu in Estonia EHR for short.
The Broadcasting Council is the highest management body of ERR.
The first Chair of ERR is Margus Allikmaa.
Public broadcasting
Public broadcasting includes radio, television and other electronic media outlets whose primary mission is public service. Public broadcasters receive funding from diverse sources including license fees, individual contributions, public financing and commercial financing.Public broadcasting may be...
television station
Television station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
of Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
. It made its first broadcast on 19 July 1955.
The bulk of ETV's funding comes from government grant-in-aid
Grant-in-aid
A grant-in-aid is money coming from central government for a specific project. This kind of funding is usually used when the government and parliament have decided that the recipient should be publicly funded but operate with reasonable independence from the state.In the United Kingdom, most bodies...
, around 15% of which is in turn funded by the fees paid by Estonian commercial broadcasters in return for their exclusive right to screen television advertising. ETV stopped showing commercials in 1998-1999 and has again ceased doing so since 2002: its low-cost advertising rates were damaging the ability of commercial broadcasters to operate. The introduction of a system of broadcast receiver licences
Television licence
A television licence is an official licence required in many countries for the reception of television broadcasts...
, payable by viewers, was considered, but ultimately rejected in the face of public opposition.
On 1 January 1993, ETV was admitted as a full active member of the European Broadcasting Union
European Broadcasting Union
The European Broadcasting Union is a confederation of 74 broadcasting organisations from 56 countries, and 49 associate broadcasters from a further 25...
.
In 2002, ETV hosted the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 2002
The Eurovision Song Contest 2002 was the 47th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It took place on 25 May 2002 at the Saku Suurhall Arena in Tallinn, Estonia....
.
On 9 January 2006, ETV launched an Internet news service called ETV24. Broadcasting news on Internet, teletext, and on ETV at night.
On 1 June 2007, ETV controversially merged with the Estonian Radio Service (ER) to form the Estonian Public Broadcasting or Eesti Rahvusringhääling
Eesti Rahvusringhääling
Eesti Rahvusringhääling – Estonian Public Broadcasting – is a publicly funded radio and television organisation created in Estonia on 1 June 2007 to take over the functions of the formerly separate Eesti Raadio and Eesti Televisioon , under the terms of the Estonian National...
, ERR for short. Created for under the new Estonian National Broadcasting Act, passed by the Estonian Parliament on 18 January 2007. So, ETV24 was replaced with ERR Uudised (ERR News) However, ETV has so far continued broadcasting under its original name.
On 1 July 2010, Estonia completed their transition to digital terrestrial television
Digital terrestrial television
Digital terrestrial television is the technological evolution of broadcast television and advance from analog television, which broadcasts land-based signals...
, finishing all analogue services. An informational on-screen message indicating this was visible on the old ETV frequencies until 5 July 2010.
The Estonian Public Broadcasting Act regulates ERR's actions, through the Estonian Broadcasting Council or Ringhäälingunõukogu in Estonia EHR for short.
The Broadcasting Council is the highest management body of ERR.
The first Chair of ERR is Margus Allikmaa.