Estonian viewers can now receive a total of eight FTA channels.
This, according to the national transmission company Levira, follows the addition of 3+ to the list of such services.
According to Kristo Kaasan, Levira’s director of technology and IT, “A month ago, there were half as many channels in free distribution as now, but the war in Ukraine made us act quickly with our partners to bring more channels to free distribution and provide more information. Free distribution is available all over Estonia and does not require a contract with any service provider, unless you also want to watch pay-TV packages. To watch free-to-air coverage, you need a rooftop antenna, a TV and a digital tuner – if it’s not already built into the TV”.
Signe Suur, CEO of TV3 Group Estonia, confirmed that the decision to return to TV channel 3+ stems from recent events. “Due to the events in Ukraine, restrictions on Russian TV channels and Russian-produced programmes made it necessary to provide high-quality local Russian-language content than ever before”.
Entertainment series and films from Ukraine, Europe, the US and Estonia will be broadcast on 3+. TV3 Group also plans to produce fresh and local Russian-language content this year.
The eight FTA channels now available in Estonia are: ETV, ETV2, ETV +, 3+, English-language France 24, Russian-language Euronews and Current Time, and Ukrainian-language Ukraina 24.
ERR broadcasts the Ukrainian news channel ICTV and the English language 1 + 1 International in Jupiter, and Ukraina 24 and Inter+ can also be found in Elisa’s services.