Estonian media companies ask ministry to reconsider Russian dubbing ban
Heads of four Estonian media companies, including public broadcaster ERR, have asked the education minister to reconsider summer amendments to the Language Act banning Russian-language dubbing and voice-over for foreign films and shows.
Leaders of four Estonian media organizations — public broadcaster ERR, Go3, TV3 and Duo Media Networks — have appealed to Education and Research Minister Kristina Kallas to reconsider amendments to the Language Act passed this summer.
The amendments require foreign-language films and programs shown in cinemas and on television to include Estonian-language translation, and ban dubbing or voice-over translation into other foreign languages. In practice, a Spanish film, for example, must carry Estonian subtitles and may also carry Russian subtitles, but cannot use Russian dubbing.
Industry objections
Media executives say they already provide Estonian subtitles but want to decide for themselves how to add translations into other languages. Duo Media Networks head Juri Pihel explained the company uses voice-over translation for Latvian, Lithuanian and Russian audiences while using Estonian subtitles, because that matches each audience's habits and cultural norms. He said what should be a technical, formal matter has been turned into a political issue.
ETV+ editor-in-chief Ekaterina Taklaja said increasing numbers of viewers watch content online, while television is watched mostly by older audiences who find subtitles hard to read and lack the cultural habit of using them. She warned the change would hurt channel ratings, including for news and current-affairs programming.
TV3 Grupp Eesti head Toomas Luhats said the excessive regulation is unlikely to improve Estonia's security. He warned that forcing older Russian-speaking viewers who currently watch dubbed or voiced-over content to switch to subtitles could push them toward other, possibly sanctioned, channels instead — removing them from Estonia's own information space.
Ministry response
Education Ministry adviser Katlin Kõverik confirmed the letter was received and will be reviewed. She said the law was adopted in its current form over the summer because media representatives joined the discussion too late — by the time they raised concerns, the Riigikogu had already completed its third reading. Kõverik added that the letter is lengthy and detailed, requiring careful review and coordination with other ministries, so it is too early to say how the Language Act might be amended.
