Programme licences

A programme licence, which gives the right to broadcast or offer programmes, is required by operators of terrestrial television and radio networks.

The Finnish Broadcasting Company (Yleisradio, YLE) does not require a licence. YLE can broadcast radio and television programmes without an operating licence on the frequencies that have been allocated to it by the government.

Television operation licences concern the antenna network. Radio operation licences are issued to local and regional radio services and for special radio broadcasting purposes. Special radio broadcasting operates across a broader area than regional radio, and this area is defined separately in the operating licence.

The Government issues a call for applications for operating licences and grants them on the proposal of the Ministry of Transport and Communications. Short term programme licences, as well as mobile television licences, are issued by the Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority (FICORA).

The radio and television companies' international association is the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The Union has 74 members from 56 countries in and around Europe. In addition the EBU has 36 associate members around the world. The Finnish members of the EBU are the Finnish Broadcasting Company and MTV MEDIA.