Press Release: ‘Television without Frontiers’: Commission warns Estonia to apply the EU’s TV advertising rules

The Commission warned Estonia that it is not complying with EU rules on television advertising. The major Estonian television channels are frequently breaking the rules in the EU's 'Television without Frontiers' Directive that limit spot advertising and teleshopping to a maximum of 12 minutes per hour, according to an independent expert report requested by the European Commission. The Commission does not agree with Estonia's interpretation that certain forms of advertising spots are sponsorship and therefore has sent a letter of formal notice, which is the first of three steps in an infringement procedure under the EC Treaty.