Levira is inviting international TV channels in Estonia

At a seminar to be held today in London, Estonia-based digital services provider Levira will continue to present Estonia’s opportunities to international broadcasters. Today’s event is a follow-up of a seminar that was held a year ago when Estonian representatives introduced smart solutions to the UK’s TV channels and presented opportunities to solve problems that might arise in the post-Brexit media landscape.

“Brexit concerns 1,200 UK TV channels that have to obtain an EU-compatible license for the free movement of their services. Estonia’s advantages are low bureaucracy, a good digital environment, and competitive license fees, another plus is Levira’s state-of-the-art playout center and pan-European Media Distribution Network. With all these circumstances Estonia presents a favorable operating environment,” said Martti Kinkar, Head of Media Services Development at Levira.

At last year’s seminar, the interest of local companies was charted, as in addition to Ireland, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg has offered broadcasters cooperation opportunities. For the sake of the project’s success, Levira has been cooperating with the Estonian government throughout the year, with the aim of offering license agreements for international companies by Estonia.

According to Tiit Tammiste, Chairman of the Management Board of Levira, a successful project is not only in Levira’s interest but it would help to promote the whole Estonian economy. “Successful cooperation with top-level TV channels would help create new jobs and open up new opportunities for the Estonian film and media sector,” Tammiste explained.

The seminar will be opened by Tiina Intelmann, the Ambassador of Estonia to the United Kingdom. The seminar organized by Levira and the Embassy will provide broadcasters with relevant information on Estonia’s use as a post-Brexit European Union base. Presentations will be given by Mati Kaalep from the Estonian Ministry of Culture, Simon Spanswick from the Association for International Broadcasting, and Tiit Tammiste from Levira.

United Kingdom’s exit from the EU would affect the licenses of companies that transmit local TV channels to EU countries with a UK license from Ofcom. Ofcom is currently the leading provider of EU’s TV licenses and analysts estimate that a total of more than 1,000 TV channels will have to acquire a new EU license due to Brexit.

Levira

Levira is a digital services provider and a technology partner to companies whose business depends on technologies and who wish to involve a professional service provider that can offer necessary solutions.

Levira is one of the biggest independent TV playout centers in Northern Europe. Levira helps local and international media companies to design TV channels and ensure that the programs are on air 24/7 and 365 days a year. Levira transmits programs to viewers in the Baltic States, Scandinavia, and Europe as well as Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

In the TV production segment, we are active players in the Baltic and Scandinavian markets and the market leader in Latvia. Levira owns three OB vehicles for TV production.

Levira is the main TV and radio network operator in Estonia. We manage the only broadcasting network in Estonia and a network of 22 transmitter towers that comply with the highest requirements.

Levira’s clients are regional and international broadcasters, IT companies, and media service providers, including ERR, Eesti Meedia, All Media Eesti, Sony, EBU, Discovery, and ATEA, as well as major telecoms, such as Telia, Tele2, and Elisa.

Levira has two shareholders: the Republic of Estonia (51%) and the French telecom and broadcasting company TDF Group (49%).