OREANDA-NEWS. January 12, 2015. The government stopped the process of selling Estonia's sole TV broadcast operator citing a change in the security situation.

"Tallinn TV Tower, owned by Levira, is property of critical importance for offering vital services and the transmitter is a pivotal part of the network which covers Estonia. In the climax of heightened tension in security, it would be short-sited to privatize Levira and the TV tower," Economy Minister Urve Palo said.

She said the 314-meter tower is a popular tourist object which was only recently renovated at great cost to the taxpayer and any sale would not guarantee it remained open.

The government decided last summer to sell the company but leave the TV tower in state hands, but negotiations with the other shareholder, France company TDF Group, which hold 49 percent of Levira, broke down.

Levira owns 23 transmitter towers across Estonia.