Estonia is joining Ireland and the Netherlands as possible contenders to take on international channel distribution after Brexit.
Estonia currently issues four different types of licences for TV broadcasting, according to Mati Kaalep, advisor on audiovisual affairs at the country’s Ministry of Culture.
Speaking in a seminar in London showcasing Estonia post-Brexit for broadcasting companies currently licensed by Ofcom, he added that these licences are for the provision of a free access TV service; conditional access TV service; satellite TV service; and temporary activity for provision of TV service. The most common type is the conditional access TV service, while temporary licences are aimed for specific events. To date, no satellite TV licences have been issued.
Kaalep also touched on advertising in Estonia. In the case of alcohol, it will be prohibited on social media and for an additional hour each evening on TV from July 1.
More generally, he said that the Advertising Act is lex generalis and Media Services Act lex specialis for media service providers. The latter transposes the AVMSD and is the most important legislative instrument aimed specifically at broadcasters.
Other presentations at the seminar were provided by Kersti Kaljulaid, the president of Estonia’ Indrek Saar, the country’s minister of culture; Adam Rang, from Enterprise Estonia; and Tiit Tammiste, the chairman of the board at Levira.
As previously reported by Broadband TV News, Tammiste has said that Levira is working closely with the Estonian government to start offering licence agreements to international companies in the coming years.
