Estonian minister calls Tallinn TV ‘an example of the city’s vanity’

by Andy Sennitt.

Although the Estonian Ministry of Culture has issued a broadcasting licence to allow the appearance of Tallinn TV, Minister Laine Jänes thinks that “there are plenty of high quality TV channels in Estonia. Tallinn boasting its own TV channel is just a waste of taxpayers’ money”. In Ms Jänes’ opinion, Tallinn TV is an example of the city’s vanity, as the local government is funding the project.

Ms Jänes pointed out that the Ministry has no reason to decline the licence. She explained that for broadcasting via cable, there is no competition: whoever wants permission will get it if the requirements are fulfilled. The broadcasting licence obliges Tallinn TV to start broadcasting on 1 January 2011 the latest, and it has to operate for at least 8 hours per day. The authorisation is for three years.

All the counties in Tallinn will be able to watch the new TV channel. The content will consist of news and programmes about the capital city of Estonia, together with some specific programmes dedicated to culture, documentaries, films and children.

The Culture Minister said “I would like to hope that this channel will show a varied and objective programme to the audience, but I think that now, when the city is not in the best financial state, it is not the right time to start developing a television programme”.