Television was introduced in Finland in 1955. Color television started in 1969 and was introduced gradually, with most programs in color by the late 1970s. All terrestrial analogue stations stopped broadcasting on 1 September 2007 after the introduction of digital television; cable providers were allowed to continue analog broadcasting in their networks until 1 March 2008.
Typically, foreign-language content is subtitled, retaining the original language soundtrack. This includes interview responses in news or magazine programmes not given in the main language of that programme. Foreign programming intended for children is, however, usually dubbed into one of the national languages. Regardless of the intended audience or original language, many shows receive a Finnish and/or Swedish title which is used in programme schedules.
In 2016 it was said that 47% of people watch via terrestrial antenna, 43% via cable, 11% via IPTV and 4% via satellite.
History
On 24 May 1955, the first public television broadcast in Finland was aired by the Radioinsinööriseura (later Elektroniikkainsinöörien seura). The project eventually developed into TES-TV (later Tesvisio), the first television channel in Finland that began regular broadcasts on 21 March 1956. The public broadcaster Yleisradio began their television project in 1957, with regular broadcasts starting from 1 January 1958. Suomen Televisio (now Yle TV1), as the channel was called, also featured commercial programming from MTV, a separate channel that leased programming blocks from Yleisradio. This arrangement would last until 1993.
Yleisradio acquired Tesvisio in 1964 and reorganized its assets into a second TV channel (now Yle TV2). Despite MTV's demands that the second channel be in their control, Yleisradio maintained ownership of the second channel but sold MTV more time on it. In 1986, a third channel Kolmoskanava was introduced as a joint venture between Yleisradio, MTV and Nokia. MTV gradually purchased Kolmoskanava into their ownership and in 1993, turned it into MTV3. Once MTV3 was introduced, MTV moved all of its programming there.
Since 2021, around 75% of the Finnish population watch television content online via YouTube, Vimeo, and other, in addition to online TV broadcasting companies.
Finnish programming
MTV3
Bosch
Broadchurch
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Miami
CSI: NY
Crisis
Emmerdale
Hostages
Legends
Madam Secretary
Major Crimes
NCIS: New Orleans
Prison Break
Survivor
The Amazing Race
The Apprentice
The Bold and the Beautiful
The Closer
The Mentalist
The Night Manager
Wallander
24
Diva Channel
Army Wives
The Biggest Loser: Toinen mahdollisuus
Chicago Fire
Bates Motel
Bones
Kallista kipua
Sex and the City – Sinkkuelämää
Chance
West Wing
Revolution
C.S.I. Num3rot Gossip Girl Kuuntelija Nurse Jackie Smash Dexter Nuoret poliisit Yli synkän virran Burn Notice The Real Housewives franchise Rikoksista pahin Wild at Heart Medium Psych Shattered Ruma Betty Kova laki: Erikoisyksikkö Kova laki Kova laki: Rikollinen mieli Kova laki: Los Angeles Mike & Molly Tyhjätaskut Orange Is the New Black Brooklyn 99 Kunnian miehet Downton Abbey The Mindy Project C.S.I. Cyber Havaiji 5-0 Tarkka-ampujat The Oprah Winfrey Show Good Wife House Muodon vuoksi Mad Love Tuho-osasto Monk Vampyyripäiväkirjat Keeping Up with the Kardashians Eureka The Originals Isojen poikien leikit Event
Digital terrestrial
Digital terrestrial television was launched on 21 August 2001. The analogue networks continued its broadcasts alongside the digital ones until 1 September 2007, when they were shut down nationwide.
Before the analogue switchoff, the terrestrial network had three multiplexes: MUX A, MUX B and MUX C. MUX A contained the channels of the public broadcaster Yleisradio and MUX B was shared between the two commercial broadcasters: MTV3 and Nelonen. MUX C contained channels of various other broadcasters. After the analogue closedown, a fourth multiplex named MUX E was launched.