Eesti Televisioon (ETV) ( en, Estonian Television) is an Estonian free-to-air

television channel A television channel is a terrestrial frequency or virtual number over which a television station or television network is distributed. For example, in North America, "channel 2" refers to the terrestrial or cable band of 54 to 60 MHz, with ...

owned and operated by Estonian Public Broadcasting. It made its first broadcast on 19 July 1955.

History

Eesti Televisioon (''Estonian Television'') was launched on 19 July 1955. Before that, television broadcasts in Estonia could only be received from Moscow. The very first Estonian-language TV presenter was Ofelia Mikk, whose debut was in the 19 July 1955 test broadcast. Her tenure in television was cut short, because she misspoke out of nervousness. The first tenured presenter for the nascent ETV was Ruth Peramets-Püss (1927–2005). To find a presenter, a casting competition was held in 1955, but no suitable person was found. By chance, a film in which she starred, was aired on ETV on the day of the competition, and so she was hired.

Kalmer Tennosaar Kalmer Tennosaar (23 November 1928, Kiidjärve, Vastse-Kuuste Parish – 20 September 2004, Tallinn) was an Estonian singer and Eesti Televisioon journalist. He was popular in Soviet times The history of Soviet Russia and the Soviet Union ( ...

(1928–2004) began as a presenter on 1 January 1956, and subsequently worked as an editor and fellow of music programmes (1957–1962, and then after 1968). He became very popular as the host of a children's songs show "Entel-tentel". Tennosaar later continued his career as a singer. On 1 January 1993, ETV was admitted as a full active member of the

European Broadcasting Union The European Broadcasting Union (EBU; french: Union européenne de radio-télévision, links=no, UER) is an alliance of public service media organisations whose countries are within the European Broadcasting Area or who are members of the C ...

(EBU). From the restoration of independence in 1991 to 31 December 1992, it was a member of the

International Radio and Television Organisation The International Radio and Television Organisation (official name in French: Organisation Internationale de Radiodiffusion et de Télévision or OIRT (before 1960 International Broadcasting Organization (IBO), official name in French: ''Organi ...

(OIRT). 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. In 2002, ETV hosted the

Eurovision Song Contest 2002 The Eurovision Song Contest 2002 was the 47th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Tallinn, Estonia, following the country's victory at the with the song "Everybody" by Tanel Padar, Dave Benton and 2XL. Organised by the Euro ...

. On 9 January 2006, ETV launched an Internet news service called ETV24. Broadcasting news on Internet, teletext, and on ETV at night. Until 2007 ETV was operated by Eesti Televisioon, the eponymous broadcasting organisation. Pursuant to the new Estonian National Broadcasting Act passed by the Estonian Parliament on 18 January 2007, Eesti Televisioon merged with Eesti Raadio (Estonian Radio, ''ER'') on 1 June 2007 to form the Estonian Public Broadcasting service, or

Eesti Rahvusringhääling Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR) – ''Estonian Public Broadcasting'' – is a publicly funded and owned radio and television organisation created in Estonia on 1 June 2007 to take over the functions of the formerly separate Eesti Raadi ...

(ERR). During the consolidation, the ''ETV24'' news service was replaced with ''ERR Uudised'' (ERR News). On 1 July 2010, Estonia completed its transition to

digital terrestrial television Digital terrestrial television (DTTV or DTT, or DTTB with "broadcasting") is a technology for terrestrial television in which land-based (terrestrial) television stations broadcast television content by radio waves to televisions in consumers' ...

, discontinuing all analogue services. An informational on-screen message indicating this was visible on the old ETV frequencies until 5 July 2010.

Funding and management

The bulk of ETV's funding comes from government

grant-in-aid A grant-in-aid is money coming from a central government for a specific project. Such funding is usually used when the government and the legislature decide that the recipient should be publicly funded but operate with reasonable independence ...

, 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 itself is editorially fully independent.

Notable personnel

The more well known journalists of ETV include

Tõnu Aav Tõnu Aav (21 January 1939 – 14 August 2019) was an Estonian stage, film, TV, and radio actor. Aav was born in Tallinn and graduated from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in 1961. From 1961 he performed at the Estonian Drama Theatre ...

, Maire Aunaste, Grete Lõbu, Anu Välba, Katrin Viirpalu, Reet Linna, Monika Tamla, Kadri Hinrikus, Astrid Kannel,

Margus Saar Margus Saar (born April 20, 1966 in Tallinn) is an Estonian television journalist and producer. He was felicitated with the Order of the White Star The Order of the White Star ( et, Valgetähe teenetemärk; french: Ordre de l'Etoile Blanche) was ...

, Peeter Kaldre,

Mati Talvik Mati Talvik (11 April 1942 – 25 July 2018) was an Estonian television journalist. Talvik was born and raised in Tallinn. He was the son of lawyer Edgar Talvik. His uncle was singer and journalist Kalmer Tennosaar. From 1967 until 1970, he ...

, Marko Reikop, Urmas Vaino, Jim Ashilevi, etc.

Notable former personnel

* Maire Aunaste, presenter and show host, currently

member of parliament A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members o ...

* Meelis Kompus, presenter *

Urve Tiidus Urve Tiidus ( Uussaar; born 6 June 1954) is an Estonian politician, member of the Reform Party and former journalist. She was Minister of Culture in Taavi Rõivas's first cabinet. She has been a member of Riigikogu since 2011. Before that she ...

, presenter, currently

Notable past personnel

* Valdo Pant (1928–1976), journalist and historian *

(1928–2004), early presenter for ETV, show host and singer * Toomas Uba (1943–2000), sports journalist * Urmas Ott (1955–2008), journalist, presenter and star interviewer * Aarne Rannamäe (1958–2016), journalist (foreign affairs), news anchor and presenter

References

External links

*
History of ETV
{{Eastern Bloc media Television channels in Estonia Eastern Bloc mass media Television channels and stations established in 1955 1955 establishments in Estonia Television in the Soviet Union Mass media in Tallinn Eesti Rahvusringhääling