Estonia: public TV company ERR want to sell their World Cup 2014 rights for financial reasons

"We don't have enough money in next year's budget to cover the expenses on the two major events, the football world championships and the Sochi Winter Olympics," said Margus Allikmaa, chairman of the management board of ERR (Estonian Public Broadcasting), on the 19/11/2013.

At the end of September 2013, ERR asked the Estonian government for a budget extension of €800,000, but it was rebuffed. "To be able to keep the expenditures and revenue in balance in the 2014 budget and also maintain all program services at existing volumes, we must forgo the rights to the football world championships. Giving up the rights is not easy and the only possibility is to sell them to another nationwide channel. This is so that Estonians could still be able to see the football and we could get to a balanced budget," added Margus Allikmaa.

ERR hold the broadcasting rights in Estonia for the 2014 World Cup, on television, Internet and mobile devices. The public group, who value the mobile and internet rights at €600,000, want to sell them to a private channel.

"Tallinn TV (local TV channel) have expressed…