Estonia media guide

This page is no longer being updated. It was last updated on 22 August 2023

Tallin's TV tower

Television is Estonia's most popular medium, while print media are losing ground to online outlets.

Estonia's high level of media freedom has been praised by international watchdogs. Media regulation is light and ownership is highly concentrated.

Three private groups and one public broadcaster dominate the market, including Sweden's MTG.

Russian state TV and multiple Russian websites were blocked after the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, but Russian social media remain popular with Estonia's Russian-speaking audiences.

Several "alternative news" websites have been accused of spreading disinformation, including narratives that reflect Kremlin messaging.

There were 1.2 million internet users by December 2021, comprising 96% of the population (Internetworldstats.com).

The leading social network is Facebook. Russian-speakers favour Russian social media, especially Odnoklassniki and VKontakte.

• Media guides by BBC Monitoring

Press

• Postimees - leading daily, Estonian and Russian-language editions

• Ohtuleht - popular tabloid

• Eesti Paevaleht - daily

• Aripaev - business daily

• Maaleht - weekly

• Eesti Ekspress - weekly

Television

• Eesti Televisioon (ETV) - public; website has news in English

• TV3 - commercial

• Kanal 2 - commercial

Radio

• Eesti Raadio- public; five networks including flagship Vikerraadio

• Raadio Elmar - commercial, music

• Raadio Kuku - commercial, talk

• Russkoje Radio - commercial, music and talk in Russian

News agency/internet

• Baltic News Service (BNS) - private

• Delfi - news portal, in Estonian and Russian