ETV

**Eesti Televisioon (ETV)** is the main TV channel of the Estonian Public Broadcasting Company (ERR), which produces and shows news, cultural, entertainment, and educational programs.

## Channel description

ETV is the most important and reliable TV channel for Estonian residents. ETV raises socially important topics and does so at a high journalistic and technical level. ETV is almost the only one in Estonia capable of producing major projects and special programs that unite different social groups based on values. Social issues, cultural events that unite society, and high-quality entertainment are important.

## History

Eesti Televisioon (Estonian Television) was launched on 19 July, 1955. Before that, television broadcasts in Estonia could only be received from Moscow. At 19:30, after the opening march, announcers Ofelia Mikk and Zinaida Madissova started the very first day of broadcasting, which lasted 2 hours and 35 minutes. On March 11, 1956, the news bulletin "Aktuaalne kaamera" premiered. Along with that, the broadcaster has been producing variety shows and broadcasting many live events, like The Olympic Games in Rome.

At its creation the July 19, 1955, the channel was called **Tallinna Televisioonistuudio** (Tallinn Television Studio). It depends on the Central Television of the USSR, of which it is a relay in the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic, as Central Television's programs began to be broadcast on the channel. For more than 35 years, it was the only channel available in the Estonian SSR. Tallinna Televisioonistuudio joined the Intervision network in 1961.

Starting from 1961, the channel had 7-day broadcast week, with morning shows three times a week. In 1967, they started showing commercials. Also in 1967, the channel attempted to receive color broadcasting from Central Television. From July 2 1981, all programs has been broadcast in color.

Central Television's information program "Vremya" was included in the ETV program as a regular and mandatory program in 1971.

Tallinna Televisioonistuudio changed its name in January 14th, 1965 to **Eesti Televisioon**. Between 1970 and 1980, films, children's programs, music, sports and reports appeared on the air. The audience could receive programs from the USSR and Finland along with the channel's own production. Viewers in the former USSR are well acquainted with the popular Estonian television program *Teletutvus* (Knowledge Television), which was broadcast during Perestroika on USSR Central Television. In 1988, its author and presenter, Urmas Ott, received for this program the prize of the Union of Journalists of the USSR. Some live broadcasts of ETV reached Finland, then the Eurovision network.

The legal basis for the operation of Eesti Televisioon and the public radio station *Eesti Raadio* is anchored in the Broadcasting Act of 19 May 1994. Among other things, the broadcasters have the task of promoting Estonian culture, satisfying the information needs of all sections of the population with news, permanently archiving events of public and cultural life, and strengthening state unity. Fulfillment of these tasks is overseen by a nine-member Broadcasting Council, whose members are appointed by Parliament.

The lion's share of funding came from the state. Around 15% of these funds are raised indirectly through fees paid by commercial broadcasters to compensate ETV for not advertising on television. ETV did not show television advertising in 1998-1999 and since 2002, its low per-minute prices having previously threatened the existence of its commercial competitors. The introduction of license fees was considered several times, but this plan could not be implemented. An agreement was signed between ETV and the private television channels TV 3, TV 1 and Kanal 2, according to which ETV will give up the sale of advertising from the beginning of 1998 and will receive financial compensation from the private channels for this (36 million kroons for 1998). The contract was terminated on May 3, 1999, with both sides accusing each other of violating the terms of the contract. In 1998, ETV stopped selling and showing advertising in its programs. The introduction of a payment system that is borne by the viewers was considered, but was ultimately rejected due to public opposition.

On December 27, 1989, by a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Council, the federal-republican Estonian SSR National Television and Radio Committee was liquidated, and the national television and radio organization Estonian Broadcasting was formed.

Following the country's second independence on August 20, 1991, it became the public television channel of the Republic of Estonia. January 1, 1993: ETV became a full member of the EBU, and in 2002 it hosted the Eurovision Song Contest.

On January 9, 2006, Eesti Televisioon launched a news service on the internet, called ETV24. This service is also broadcast at night on the channel and on teletext .

On June 1, 2007, Eesti Televisioon merged with the *Estonian Radio Service*, owner of Eesti Raadio to form Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR; Estonian Public Broadcasting). This merger is due to the Estonian National Broadcasting Act passed by the Estonian Parliament on January 18 , 2007. This is how ETV24 became ERR Uudised (*ERR News Online*). On August 8 , 2008, Eesti Rahvusringhääling launched a second public digital terrestrial television channel, ETV2.

On July 1, 2010, ETV ceased its analog broadcasting following the transition to digital terrestrial television. In 2011, the channel switched to the 16:9 broadcast format.

## Service

### Availability

ETV programs are available to 99.96% of Estonian residents both on the air and via satellite and cable networks. Broadcast standard — B, G / PAL , NICAM STEREO.

### Clock in the logo

In the logo to the left of the name of the ETV channel, there is an interactive clock showing Tallinn time, which is officially tied to Eastern European time. In the static version previously used on air, the "time" on the logo's stylized clock is marked as 10 hours, 05 minutes.

## Programs

### Current programs

* Terevisioon
* Aktuaalne kaamera
* Ringvaade
* Prillitoos
* Maahommik
* Eesti lood
* Lennud

## External links and references

1. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20080828083953/http://etv.err.ee/index.php?1536645
2. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20110912015207/http://etv.err.ee/index.php?0536433
3. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20090327121308/http://www.eumap.org/topics/media/television\_europe/national/estonia/media\_est1.pdf
4. ↑ http://news.err.ee/v/Culture/entertainment/9c8daee1-f096-4586-97b3-08fed607d21c
5. ↑ https://books.google.fi/books/about/Religion\_and\_Law\_in\_Estonia.html?id=TLflU2mTkXkC