TV3 () is a commercial television channel targeted at an Estonian language audience owned by Providence Equity Partners.
History It was founded in 1996 after two recently established television stations, EVTV and RTV, were merged.
TV3 has three sister channels. TV6 is a television channel targeted at entertainment television channel in Estonia, launched in 2008. TV3 Life is an entertainment television channel, launched as a digital sister channel to TV3 in 2022. Third channel TV3 Gold was launched in 2025.
For several years, TV3 had better ratings than the other private channel, Kanal 2. The situation changed in 2006, when Kanal 2 made some big changes in their programme. TV3 ratings fell and shows had problems getting enough viewers to reach the Top 10 of the week. Later that year, programme director Jüri Pihel left TV3.
In 2009 all Baltic TV3 channels introduced new red-white visual identity, logo and slogan. The slogan was "Tere tulemast koju!" (). News programme "Seitsmesed uudised" () was discontinued and changed with a new "TV3 uudised" (TV3 News), which had the same format as Latvian and Lithuanian TV3 News programmes, the program is returning in 2023.
In January 2011 Mikko Silvennoinen, a Finnish television host, journalist and producer, was hired as the new programme director. In February TV3 changed their news programme format and "Seitsmesed uudised" was brought back. On 15 August, TV3 once again changed their visual identity and logo from red to purple, which was so far used in Norwegian, Danish, Hungarian and Slovenian TV3s. Also a new slogan was introduced: "Rohkem elu, rohkem meelelahutust!" ().
TV3, as with other channels of the All Media Baltics group in the Baltic states, switched to HD broadcasting on 26 July 2018.
Currently airing (as of June 2014)
Estonian shows and series Original name English translation Notes Eesti otsib superstaari Estonia's Looking for a Superstar Estonian version of Pop Idol Elu keset linna Life in the middle of the city drama series Faktuaalne kaamera Factual Camera Sketch comedy Heimari kokaklubi Heimar's Cooking Club Cooking Kaua võib! Kolmeraudne Triple-Barrel Shotgun Talkshow Kättemaksukontor Revenge office Comedy-crime series Naistesaade Women's Show Fashion, clothing, makeup Nurjatud tüdrukud Mean Girls Drama series Nurgakivi Cornerstone Building, architecture, interior design Ment A Cop Sitcom Omakohus Randevuu Rendezvous Dating Show, Estonian version of Russian show Давай поженимся! Seitsmesed uudised News at 7 News Sind otsides Looking for you Reality series, Estonian version of Russian series Жди меня Suletud uste taga Behind Closed Doors Series of real-life stories Stiilipäevik Style Diary Style makeover show STOP! — Traffic topics Teekond iseendani Road to Yourself Reality series about alternative medicine
Foreign shows and series Original name Estonian translation Origin America's Funniest Home Videos Kõige naljakamad koduvideod United States Blue Bloods Politseipere United States The Bold and the Beautiful Vaprad ja ilusad United States Britain's Got Talent Briti Talent United Kingdom Bones Kondid United States Castle — United States CSI: Crime Scene Investigation CSI: Kriminalistid United States CSI: Miami — United States CSI: NY CSI: New York United States The Event Sündmus United States The Finder Leidja United States Glee — United States Hawaii Five-0 Hawaii 5-0 United States Hercules: The Legendary Journeys Herakles United States Homeland Kodumaa United States Knight Rider (1982 TV series) — United States Lie to Me Vale jälgedel United States MasterChef Meisterkokk United States Midsomer Murders Midsomeri mõrvad United Kingdom Modern Family Moodne perekond United States My Kitchen Rules - Australia Psych Meisterdetektiiv Spencer United States Top Gear — United Kingdom The A-Team A-Rühm United States :de:We are Family! So lebt Deutschland Selline on elu Germany Wipeout Rajalt maha United States Xena: Warrior Princess Sõjaprintsess Xena United States Under the Dome Kupli all United States The Americans Ameeriklased United States Alarm für Cobra 11 Kutsuge Cobra 11 Germany My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic Minu Väike Poni: Sõprus On Imeline United States/ Canada
Logos
See also List of Estonian television channels TV3 (Viasat)
References
External links
Online archive of TV3 shows