Could Estonia lose its only Russian-language TV channel?

Estonia’s only Russian-language TV channel ETV+ is under threat, after the Conservative People’s Party of Estonia (EKRE) made a proposal to close it.

The proposal forms part of a package of amendments presented by the right-wing party for the draft of the 2017 state budget. MPs will vote on the amendments on 16 November.

According to the suggested amendment, closing ETV+ will save 4 million euros ($4.3 million). EKRE has noted that the channel is one of Estonian broadcaster ERR’s most expensive projects.

“At the same time it is one of the least watchable channels, which clearly does not fulfill its task of integrating the Russian-speaking population, because the vast majority of the channel’s viewers are Estonians,” read an explanation to the amendment.

The channel, which recently celebrated its one year anniversary, gained ratings of just 0.5% last month.

Source: ERR (in Russian)