View source for Yle

{{Short description|Finnish national public broadcaster}}
{{about|the Finnish national public broadcaster|other meanings|Yle (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox broadcasting network
| name = Yleisradio<br>Rundradion
| image = 
| logo_size = 180
| image2 = 
| logo = Ylen logo.svg
| logo_caption = Logo used since 2012
| type = [[Terrestrial television|Terrestrial]] [[radio]], [[television]] and [[Website|online]]
| branding = [[Yleisradio]]
| established = 
| test card = 
| test of transmission = 
| airdate = 1926
| country = [[Finland]]
| available = Finland<br />(The [[Nordic countries|Nordics]] and the rest of the [[EU|European Union]] if your registered place of residence is in Finland)
| founded = {{start date and age|1926|5|29|df=y}} (Radio)<br />{{start date and age|1958|1|1|df=y}} (Television)
| founder = 
| ceo = 
| motto = Kaikille yhteinen, jokaiselle oma (Common to all, unique to everyone)
| tvstations = 
| tvtransmitters = 
| radiostations = 
| radiotransmitters = 
| market_share = 45.2% of Finnish television viewers and 53% of radio listeners (2010)<ref>{{cite web|title=Results From The TV Audience Measurement|url=http://www.finnpanel.fi/en/tulokset/tv/vuosi/share/2010/|publisher=Finnpanel|access-date=23 December 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Radio Listening In Finland 2010|url=http://www.finnpanel.fi/lataukset/radio_listening_in_finland_2010.pdf|publisher=Finnpanel|access-date=23 December 2011|page=18|date=3 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527033348/http://www.finnpanel.fi/lataukset/radio_listening_in_finland_2010.pdf|archive-date=27 May 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>
| license_area = 
| headquarters = Uutiskatu 5, [[Helsinki]], [[Finland]]
| broadcast_area = 
| area = 
| regions = [[YLE Åland]]
| erp = 
| owner = 99.98% state-owned, supervised by an administrative council appointed by the [[Parliament of Finland|Finnish parliament]]
| parent = [[Ministry of Transport and Communications (Finland)|Ministry of Transport and Communications]]
| key_people = Marit af Björkesten (CEO)
| launch_date = {{Start date and age|1926|9|9|df=y}}
| dissolved = 
| replaced = 
| replaced_by = 
| former_names = O.Y. Suomen Yleisradio / A.B. Finlands Rundradio<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2015/01/11/ylen-historia|title=Ylen historia |work=yle.fi|date=11 January 2015 }}</ref>
| digital = 
| analog = 
| servicename1 = 
| service1 = 
| servicename2 = 
| service2 = 
| servicename7 = 
| service7 = 
| callsigns = 
| callsign_meaning = 
| former_callsigns = 
| affiliation = 
| affiliates = 
| groups = 
| former_affiliations = 
| webcast = 
| website = {{URL|https://yle.fi/}}
| subsidiary = 
| footnotes = 
}}

'''Yleisradio Oy''' ({{lit|General Radio [[osakeyhtiö|Ltd.]]}}; {{langx|sv|Rundradion Ab}}), abbreviated as '''Yle''' ({{IPA|fi|ˈyle|lang}}; formerly styled in [[all uppercase]] until 2012), translated into [[English language|English]] as the '''Finnish Broadcasting Company''', is [[Finland]]'s national [[public broadcasting]] company, founded in 1926. It is a [[osakeyhtiö|joint-stock company]], which is 99.98% owned by the Finnish state and employs around 3,000 people in Finland.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 March 2025 |title=Yle's Annual Report 2024 |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kDF-TrEL25Jsm-oYd3Cjad0n1tTAHZfX/view |access-date=17 May 2025 |website=Yle |page=4 |format=PDF}}</ref>

Yle was long funded by revenues obtained from a [[Television licence|broadcast receiving license fee]] payable by the owners of radio sets (1927–1976) and television sets (1958–2012) and through a portion of the broadcasting license fees payable by private television broadcasters. Since 2013, the license fee has been replaced by a public broadcasting tax (known as the [[Yle tax]]) collected annually from Finnish citizens and corporations. The main part of the Yle tax is collected from individual taxpayers, with payments assessed on a sliding scale. Minors and those with an annual income less than €7,813 are exempt. At the lower limit, the tax payable by individuals is €50 per annum, and the maximum (payable by an individual with a yearly income of €20,588 or more) is €140.<ref>{{cite web|title=Yle tax in force next year|date=21 June 2012|url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/yle_tax_in_force_next_year/6190475|work=yle.fi|access-date=6 February 2013}}</ref> The rationale for the abolition of the television license fee was the development of other means of delivering Yle's services, such as the [[Internet]], and the consequent impracticality of continuing to tie the fee to the ownership of a specific device. Yle receives no advertising revenue, as all channels are advertisement-free. Yle has a status that could be described as that of a [[non-departmental public body]]. It is governed by a parliamentary governing council. Yle's turnover in 2010 was €398.4 million. In 2024, Yle's annual budget was about €600 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://yle.fi/yleista/2010/vk/lyhyesti.php|title=Yleisradio – yle.fi|work=yle.fi|access-date=27 November 2013|archive-date=3 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203011223/http://yle.fi/yleista/2010/vk/lyhyesti.php|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Yle operates three national television channels, 13 radio channels and services, and 25 regional radio stations. As Finland is [[Languages of Finland|constitutionally bilingual]]&mdash;around 5.5% of the population speaks [[Finland Swedish|Swedish]] as their native language&mdash;Yle provides radio and TV programming in Swedish through its Swedish-language department, [[Svenska Yle]]. As is customary in Finland, foreign films and TV programmes (as well as segments of local programmes that feature foreign language content, like news reports) are generally [[Subtitles|subtitled]] on Yle's channels. [[Dubbing]] is used in [[cartoon]]s intended for young children who have not yet learned to read; off-screen narration in documentaries is also frequently dubbed.{{Citation needed|date=March 2018}}

In the field of international broadcasting, one of Yle's best-known services was [[Nuntii Latini]], the news in [[Latin]], which was broadcast worldwide and made available on the [[Internet]]. Yle was one of 23 founding broadcasting organisations of the [[European Broadcasting Union]] in 1950. It hosted the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2007]] in [[Helsinki]].

== History ==
{{Expand section|date=August 2017}}
[[File:Equipment made in Yleisradio's workshop at the end of the 1930's intended for broadcasting the 1940 Olympics, ca. 1940. (15301312367).jpg|thumb|right|Equipment made in Yleisradio's workshop at the end of the 1930s intended for broadcasting the [[1940 Summer Olympics]]]]
[[File:The Radio House of the Finnish Broadcasting Company in Helsinki, street view..jpg|thumb|Yle Headquarters, 1933-1968 at Fabianinkatu 15]]
[[File:Yleisradion Iso Paja.jpg|right|thumb|Yle's former headquarters from 1993 to 2016, known as Iso Paja ("the big workshop"), in [[Pasila]], [[Helsinki]], with the ''[[Pasilan linkkitorni]]'' in the background at right. Now occupied by the [[VR Group]].]]
[[File:Radiotalo.jpg|thumb|Yle's current headquarters at the {{ill|Mediatalo|fi|Mediatalo (Helsinki)}} (formerly Radiotalo) in Pasila.]]
''Suomen Yleisradio'' (Finland's General Radio) was founded in [[Helsinki]] on 29 May 1926. The first [[radio]] programme was transmitted on 9 September that year in a studio at Unioninkatu 20, generally considered the birthdate of regular broadcasting activities in Finland. The name Yleisradio was taken from the Defense Forces, where Yleisradio meant a radio broadcast that could be heard by everyone.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-09-27 |title=Sinko, Säteisheitin vai Yle? |url=https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2013/09/27/sinko-sateisheitin-vai-yle |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=yle.fi |language=fi-FI}}</ref> Before YLE, Radio broadcasts were done by Radiola in Helsinki from March 23, 1924,<ref>{{Cite web |title=elokuuta 1924 Radio no 2, s. 19 |url=https://digi.kansalliskirjasto.fi/aikakausi/binding/912044?page=19 |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=digi.kansalliskirjasto.fi |language=fi}}</ref> the radio battalion of the Finnish Defense Forces in Santahamina at the former Russian Empire Baltic Fleet officer casino, now Katajanokka casino starting in April 1923<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://itsenäisyys.fi/helsingin-venalaiset-varuskuntarakennukset-1917-ja-suomalainen-varuskunta-1918/|title=Helsingin venäläiset varuskuntarakennukset 1917 ja suomalainen varuskunta 1918 |website=itsenäisyys.fi|accessdate=27 November 2024}}</ref> and by Tampereen radioyhdistys, (Tampere Radio Society) in April 1924.<ref>{{Cite web |title=KOSKESTA VOIMAA - LIIKKUMINEN - AIKAKAUSI 1918-1940 - TIETOLIIKENNE - RADIOTOIMINNAN SYNTY TAMPEREELLA |url=https://webpages.tuni.fi/koskivoimaa/liikkuminen/1918-40/radio.html |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=webpages.tuni.fi}}</ref> Not until 1928 did Yle's broadcasts become available throughout the country. By the beginning of the 1930s, 100,000 households could listen to Yle programmes, and in 1933, Yle moved to Fabianinkatu 15, were it would stay until 1968 were it moved to Ylen Kesäkatu and then [[Mediatalo]] in 1978.

In 1957, Yle made its first television broadcast tests, and regular TV programming began the next year under the name ''Suomen Televisio'' (Finland's Television), which was later renamed [[Yle TV1]]. Television's popularity in the country grew rapidly. In 1964, Yle obtained [[Tesvisio|TES-TV]] and [[Tesvisio|Tamvisio]], which were merged into [[Yle TV2]]. In 1969, the Finnish Broadcasting Company began broadcasting television programmes in colour, but due to the high cost of colour technology, colour only became standard in the late 1970s. On 1 May 1977, ''Tv-uutiset'' (TV-news) and [[Yle Nyheter TV-nytt|TV-nytt]] switched to colour. In 1996, Yle's operations in [[Åland]] were transferred to [[Ålands Radio and TV]], and in 1998, Yle's transmitter network and related assets were spun off into a separate company called {{ill|Digita Oy|fi|Digita}}.

In radio, Yleisradio was a legal [[monopoly]] until 1985, when local radio stations were permitted,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Puukka |first=Päivi |date=30 April 2025 |title=Radio City mursi Ylen monopolin vappuna 1985 – "Ministeriössä ajateltiin, että tuo joukko sössii sen" |url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20156084 |access-date=17 May 2025 |website=Yle |language=Fi}}</ref> and maintained a national monopoly until 1995, when national radio networks were allowed.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Miettinen |first1=Osmo |url=https://julkaisut.valtioneuvosto.fi/bitstream/10024/78604/1/1_Julkaisuja_74_2004.pdf |title=Commercial Radio in Finland: Study of the Market Structure |last2=Sarpakunnas |first2=Topi |date=30 November 2004 |publisher=[[Ministry of Transport and Communications (Finland)]] |isbn=952-201-233-5 |series=74/2004 |publication-place=Helsinki |page=32 |language=Fi |chapter=4.1. Muutos paikallisista radioista formaattiradioiksi |issn=1795-4045 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>

In the 2000s, Yle established several new radio and television channels. In 2007, there was a [[digital television]] switchover. A completely new digital channel, ''Yle Teema'' (Yle Theme) was introduced, and the Swedish-language [[Yle Fem|FST]] (''Finlands Svenska Television,'' Finland's Swedish Television) was moved from its analogue channel to its digital one, YLE FST5 (later renamed Yle Fem). In addition to these four channels (TV1, TV2, Teema, and Fem), a fifth channel, YLE24, was launched in 2001 for 24-hour news programming. This channel was replaced by YLE Extra, a channel attempting to cater to the youth, which was in turn decommissioned in 2007.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mtv.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/artikkeli/yle-lopettaa-yhden-tv-kanavan/2001082#gs.Dvh=q9Y|title=Yle lopettaa yhden tv-kanavan|work=mtv.fi|access-date=21 March 2018|language=fi|archive-date=21 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321194827/https://www.mtv.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/artikkeli/yle-lopettaa-yhden-tv-kanavan/2001082#gs.Dvh=q9Y|url-status=dead}}</ref> Until 4 August 2008, the fifth channel was used to broadcast Yle TV1 with Finnish subtitles on programmes in foreign languages (without having to enable the TV's or digital set-top box's subtitle function).

=== Logo history ===
<gallery>
File:Oy-Suomen-Ab-Logo-1930.png|alt=|Yle's first logo was used from 1926 to 1940.
File:Yleisradio logo 1940.svg|Yle's second logo used from 1940 to 1965. [[Yle Radio Suomi]] used a modified version of this logo from 2010–12.
File:Yleisradio logo 1965.svg|Yle's third logo used from 1965 to 1991.
File:Yleisradion logo 1990.svg|Yle's fourth logo used from May 1990 to 30 September 1999.
File:YLE logo.svg|Yle's fifth logo used from 1 October 1999 to 4 March 2012.
File:Ylen logo.svg|Yle's sixth and current logo since 5 March 2012.
File:Ylen logo (white).svg|Variant of Yle's sixth and current logo since 5 March 2012.
</gallery>

<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tuire |first1=Nuolivirta |title="Yleisradion logot kautta aikojen" |url=http://avoinyle.fi/www/fi/liitetiedostot/Ylen_logot_kautta_aikojen.pdf |website=avoinyle.fi |access-date=4 April 2024 |archive-date=1 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801084401/http://avoinyle.fi/www/fi/liitetiedostot/Ylen_logot_kautta_aikojen.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Services==
=== Television ===
{{See also|Yle Uutiset}}
[[File:Finnish Broadcasting Company's Kesäkatu office building 1.jpg|thumb|Yleisradio's office building in 1968]]
* '''[[Yle TV1]]''': TV1 is Yle's oldest channel and its flagship TV channel. It serves as Yle's main news, current affairs and factual journalism outlet, and also broadcasts documentaries, drama, cultural, and educational programmes. Satirical entertainment, cinema, and shows of British production are also included in its programming. The channel's headquarters are in [[Helsinki]].
* '''[[Yle TV2]]''': TV2, founded in 1964, is the main channel for sports programmes and children's and teenagers' broadcasting. The channel also broadcasts drama, entertainment, and factual programmes. Emphasis in current affairs output is on domestic items, regional content and [[citizen journalism]]. Children's programming includes ''[[Pikku Kakkonen]]'' (a children's magazine show modelled on BBC's ''[[Blue Peter]]'') and ''Galaxi'', its counterpart for older children, and ''[[Sirkuspelle Hermanni]]''. The channel's headquarters are in [[Tampere]].
* '''[[Yle Teema & Fem]]''': Yle Teema & Fem (~ Yle Theme & Five) combines the operations of the previously separate [[Yle Teema|Teema]] and [[Yle Fem|Fem]] channels. Teema & Fem is Yle's channel for culture, education, and science. It focuses on recordings of performing arts, classical music, art, and history documentaries, films, and theme broadcasts. The channel also broadcasts Swedish-language full-service channel broadcasting news, factual and children's programmes (''[[BUU-klubben]]''), and entertainment. It also shows many [[Nordic countries|Nordic]] films and series and [[Sámi languages|Sámi]]-language [[Ođđasat]]. Finnish subtitles are available for most programmes; they can be enabled using the digital set-top box. Outside [[prime time]], Teema & Fem shows selected broadcasts from [[Sveriges Television]], [[Sweden|Sweden's]] equivalent of Yle.
* '''[[TV Finland]]''': TV Finland is a digital satellite channel showing a selection of Yle's programmes in Sweden.
* '''Yle Text-TV''': ({{langx|fi|Yle Teksti-tv}}) a [[Teletext]] channel shows information on news, sports, and TV programmes around the clock. It has theme pages for weather, traffic, work, and leisure.<ref>{{cite web|title= Yle Teksti-tv|url=http://www.yle.fi/tekstitv/html/P100_01.html |publisher= Yle|access-date= 10 August 2015}}</ref>

All of Yle's TV channels are in high definition, as of April 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 2025 |title=Ylen HD-muotoiset tv-kanavat |url=https://yle.fi/aihe/a/20-299205 |access-date=28 May 2025 |work=[[Yle]] |language=Fi}}</ref> Formerly discontinued channels are: [[Kolmoskanava]], [[YLE24]], [[YLE Extra]], {{ill|YLE TV1+|fi}} (2008) and {{ill|YLE HD|fi}} (2011–2014).

=== Radio ===
[[File:Hoppakaupan talo Henrik Mattjus (16372171897).jpg|thumb|Yle's former regional studio in [[Tampere]].]]
* {{ill|Yle Radio 1|fi}}: A radio channel for culture, in-depth current affairs, and other speech-based programming. Classical music (concerts by the [[Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra]]), jazz, folk, world music, and religious music also feature. Yle Radio 1 was established in June 1990, as part of Yle's restructuring of its radio channels and was known as Radio Ylen Ykkönen until 2003. 
* [[YleX]] (formerly [[Radiomafia]]): A fast-tempo programme-flow channel featuring new music in tune with popular culture, targeted at 17- to 27-year-olds. The percentage of music is 70%. New domestic and foreign pop, rock, and several themed music programmes.
* [[Yle Radio Suomi]]: The national and regional news, service, and contact channel, as well as sports and entertainment. Musical fare comprises domestic and foreign hits and adult and nostalgic pop.
* [[Yle X3M]]: Swedish-language youth channel for current affairs debate and popular culture, broadcasting news as well. New pop and rock and special music programmes.
* [[Yle Vega]]: News, current affairs, and culture in Swedish for all audience groups, also offering culture and regional programmes. Adult pop, jazz, and classical music.
* [[Yle Sámi Radio]]: A [[Sámi languages|Sámi-language]] network covering most of [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]]. Produced in co-operation with [[Sveriges Television|SVT]] and [[NRK]].

;Digital services
Yle phased out [[Digital radio|digital radio broadcasts]] by the end of 2005. Three channels continued to be available as [[DVB]] audio services until they were shut down on 30 June 2016.
* {{ill|Yle Klassinen|fi}}: The 24-hour digital supplementary service of classical music is also broadcast on digital television.
* {{ill|Yle Areena|fi}}: [[Streaming media]] where you can watch and listen to content purchased and produced by Yle, either live or recorded.

;International services
* {{ill|Yle Mondo|fi}}: Broadcasts in English and other languages, mostly compiled from international radio services. Yle Mondo is available on FM in Helsinki and throughout the country via digital TV.

;Former stations:
* {{ill|YleQ|fi}} – Features, political shows, and popular culture programmes for young adults. Broadcasting was analogue in [[Helsinki metropolitan area|Greater Helsinki]], digital in southern Finland, and via digital television.
* {{ill|Radio Finland|fi}} (worldwide on short and medium wave) – international station, broadcast in Finnish, Swedish, English, German, French, Russian and a news programme in Latin. The short and medium-wave broadcasts were discontinued on December 31, 2006.
* [[YLE Capital FM]] – broadcaster combined parts of Yle World and Yle Mondo (in the capital region and parts in Turku, Lahti and Kuopio).
* FSR Mixkanalen or Finland's Swedish Radio (FSR) – an automated station that broadcasts a mixed selection of programming from both Yle Vega and Yle XFM.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://svenska.yle.fi/a/7-128246 | title=FSR:s mixkanal läggs ned | date=24 August 2005 }}</ref>
* {{ill|Radio Aino|fi}} – digital station primarily aimed at young adults, especially women, with domestic and foreign pop and rock music, news and current affairs programming alongside lifestyle talk shows.
* {{ill|Yle Puhe|fi}} (formerly Yle Radio Peili): The news and current affairs channel presenting talk programmes from Yle's other radio and television channels. Also broadcast on digital television.

== Yle tax ==
{{Main|Yle tax}}
Until the end of 2012, Finnish citizens paid Yle a license fee for the use of a television, set at 252 euros per year in 2012. The [[Television licence|television license]] was per location, which could hold several sets (e.g. in a living room as well as a bedroom). The public broadcasting tax, also known as the Yle tax, replaced the license fee in 2013. The tax ranges from 50 euros to 140 euros per person and per year, depending on income. Minors and persons with low income are exempt from the tax.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/2766-new-yle-tax-law-causes-mixed-feelings-2.html|title=New YLE tax law causes mixed feelings|publisher=Helsinki Times|date=4 July 2012|access-date=29 June 2014}}</ref>

== Controversies ==
In 1965&ndash;69, during the term of director-general [[Eino S. Repo]], who got the position with the backing of the [[Centre Party (Finland)|Agrarian League]] and President [[Urho Kekkonen]] (a member of the Agrarian League), as he was Kekkonen's personal friend. Repo was accused of favouring leftist student radicalism and young left-leaning reporters with programmes critical of capitalism that demanded reforms to bring Finland closer to the Soviet Union, as such, Yle was given the nickname "Reporadio".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Karjalainen |first=Jussi |date=2019-04-08 |title=Avun aikakone: Reporadio tuli ja meni |url=https://www.apu.fi/artikkelit/avun-aikakone-reporadio-tuli-ja-meni |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=Apu360 |language=fi}}</ref> After Repo resigned, he was demoted to director of radio broadcasting, on the [[Communist Party of Finland|communist]]-led [[Finnish People's Democratic League|People's Democratic League]] mandate.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sjöblom |first=Tomas |title=Eino Repo |url=https://375humanistia.helsinki.fi/eino-repo/reporadio |access-date=17 May 2025 |website=Faculty of Arts, [[University of Helsinki]] |language=Fi}}</ref>

Repo resigned in 1969, but according to Yle,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.Yle.fi/elavaarkisto/?s=s&g=4&ag=28&t=32|title=Elävä arkisto - yle.fi|work=yle.fi}}</ref> a "political mandate" remained, as [[Erkki Raatikainen]] was named director-general directly from the [[Social Democratic Party of Finland|Social Democratic Party]]'s office. All directors after him until 2010 were Social Democrats. This was ended by the appointment of the conservative [[National Coalition Party]]'s [[Lauri Kivinen]] as director-general in 2010.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Kaarto |first1=Hanna |last2=Mäkinen |first2=Esa |date=19 February 2010 |title=Sdp:n 40-vuotinen valtakausi Ylen johdossa päättyy |url=https://www.hs.fi/suomi/art-2000004712952.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=17 May 2025 |work=[[Helsingin Sanomat]] |language=Fi}}</ref>

During the [[Finlandization|finlandisation]] period, Yle contributed to Kekkonen's policy of "neutrality" by broadcasting the program ''Näin naapurissa'' about the Soviet Union. This program was produced in co-operation with the Soviets and supported Soviet propaganda without criticism.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://yle.fi/elavaarkisto/artikkelit/nain_naapurissa_33268.html#media=33273|title=Näin naapurissa|work=yle.fi|author=Jukka Lindfors|date=5 September 2008|access-date=13 June 2013|archive-date=24 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524081056/http://yle.fi/elavaarkisto/artikkelit/nain_naapurissa_33268.html#media=33273|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Kivinen's appointment in 2010 received much criticism, as he was previously head of [[Nokia Networks|Nokia Siemens Networks]], which had sold monitoring equipment to the [[Ministry of Intelligence (Iran)|Iranian Ministry of Intelligence]], allowing them to arrest political dissidents throughout [[2009 Iranian presidential election protests|the protests in the fall of 2009.]]<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Nokia+network+company+sold+comprehensive+spy+network+to+Iran/1135253349691| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100309065232/http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Nokia+network+company+sold+comprehensive+spy+network+to+Iran/1135253349691| archive-date = 9 March 2010| title = Helsingin Sanomat - International Edition - Home|work=hs.fi}}</ref>

English-language newscaster [[Kimmo Wilska]] was fired on 13 October 2010<ref>{{cite web|url=http://yle.fi/elavaarkisto/?s=s&g=4&ag=28&t=390&a=9539|title=Kohuankkuri Kimmo Wilska|work=yle.fi|author=Petra Himberg|access-date=7 April 2011|archive-date=17 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101017040839/http://www.yle.fi/elavaarkisto/?s=s&g=4&ag=28&t=390&a=9539|url-status=dead}}</ref> after pretending to be caught drinking on camera following an alcohol-related news story on ''Yle News''. His stunt was not well-received by Yle's management, which fired him that day. Wilska received substantial support after his termination from the company.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lindfors |first=Jukka |date=14 October 2010 |title=Kohuankkuri Kimmo Wilska |url=https://yle.fi/a/20-109655 |access-date=17 May 2025 |website=Yle |language=Fi}}</ref>

Yle has been criticised for buying many [[HBO]] series. It has responded by emphasising the suitability of the HBO series to channels with no ad breaks, citing the programming's quality and low price, and stating that American programmes constitute only 7% of its programming.<ref>{{cite web|title=Why public service company wastes money on HBO programs? (in Finnish)|url=http://yle.fi/yleisradio/faq/ohjelmat/miksi-julkisen-palvelun-yhtio-tuhlaa-rahaa-hbon-ohjelmiin|publisher=Yle|access-date=6 February 2013}}</ref>

===Decision to close shortwave===
The broadcasts on [[shortwave radio]] from Yle Radio were closed at the end of 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-12-27 |title=Yle lopettaa ympäri maailmaa kuultavat lyhytaaltolähetyksensä |url=https://www.ts.fi/uutiset/1074170191 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=ts.fi |language=fi}}</ref> Expatriate organisations had been campaigning for continued service, but their efforts did not succeed in maintaining the service or even in slowing the process. The decision also affected a high-powered medium wave on 963&nbsp;kHz (312m). A smaller medium wave covering the [[Gulf of Finland]] region (558&nbsp;kHz, 538m) remained on air for one more year.

====Parliamentary question about shortwave====
In November 2005, MP Pertti Hemmilä ([[National Coalition Party|N]]) submitted a question in [[Parliament of Finland|parliament]] about Yle's plans to end the availability of shortwave bands internationally. In his question, Hemmilä took up the low cost of the world band radio to the consumer travelling or living abroad. In her response, the [[Ministry of Transport and Communications (Finland)|Minister of Transport and Communications]], [[Susanna Huovinen]] ([[Social Democratic Party of Finland|S]]) noted that Yle would now be available via other means, such as through [[satellites|satellite]] and the [[internet]]. She also underlined the fact that Yle is not under government control, but under indirect parliamentary supervision.<ref>Recollections of international radio from Finland {{cite web |url=http://www.ulkomaanmedia.net/engl1.shtml |title=On the air waves from Finland |work=www.ulkomaanmedia.net |access-date=19 April 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423150135/http://www.ulkomaanmedia.net/engl1.shtml |archive-date=23 April 2009 }}</ref>

==== Ylegate 2017 ====
The [[Council for Mass Media in Finland]] criticised Yleisradio for restricting news reports about Prime Minister [[Juha Sipilä]]'s investments and business in 2017. The chief editor of Yle threatened the council by stating that the public broadcaster would resign from the council. Sipilä had been angry over Yle's reporting on the [[Talvivaara mine]] and Katera Steel (a company owned by Sipilä's relatives). Several reporters were barred by Yle's upper management from publishing news stories about the political connections between Prime Minister Juha Sipilä, the companies owned by his relatives and the state financing of the Talvivaara mine owned by Terrafame.<ref>Mitä Missä Milloin. ''2018 Annual News Book''. Otava 2017. pages 109 and 341-342</ref>

==List of YLE directors ==
{{Div col}}
*[[L. M. Viherjuuri]], 1926–1927 (acting)
*[[Yrjö Koskelainen]], 1927 (acting)
*[[Armas Deinert]], 1927 (acting)
* [[Hjalmar Woldemar Walldén]] (since 1935 [[J. V. Vakio|Jalmar Voldemar Vakio]])  1927–1945
*[[Hella Wuolijoki]], 1945–1949
*[[Einar Sundström]], 1950–1964
*[[Eino S. Repo]], 1965–1969
*[[Erkki Raatikainen]], 1970–1979
*[[Sakari Kiuru]], 1980–1989
*[[Reino Paasilinna]], 1990–1994
*[[Arne Wessberg]], 1994–2005
*[[Mikael Jungner]], 2005–2010
*[[Lauri Kivinen]], 2010–2018
*[[Merja Ylä-Anttila]], 2018–2025
*[[Marit af Björkesten]], 2025–in office
{{Div col end}}

==Notable news anchors==
*Pietu Heiskanen
*Hanna Visala
*[[Marjo Rein]], 2014–2025
*Kreeta-Maria Kivioja
*[[Matti Rönkä]], 1990–2024
*Tommy Fränti
*Petteri Löppönen
*Ilkka Lahti
*Mikko Haapanen
*Milla Madetoja
*Saija Nironen
*Tuulia Thynell
*Antti Parviala
*Jussi-Pekka Rantanen
*Arto Nurmi, 1983–2015
*Marjukka Havumäki
*[[Piia Pasanen]]

== See also ==
* [[List of radio stations in Finland]]
* [[Mass media in Finland]]
* [[Television in Finland]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
{{Div col|colwidth=25em}}
* {{Official website|https://yle.fi/}} {{in lang|fi}}
* [https://yle.fi/aihe/about-yle About Yle in English]
* [https://svenska.yle.fi/ Svenska.yle.fi] – Svenska Yle. Official site in Swedish
* [http://yle.fi/uutiset/news/ Yle News] – News in English
* [http://yle.fi/uutiset/sapmi/ Yle Sápmi] – News in Sámi
* [http://yle.fi/uutiset/novosti/ Yle Novosti] – News in Russian
* [http://yle.fi/radio1/tiede/nuntii_latini/ Nuntii Latini] – News in Latin
* [http://areena.yle.fi/ Yle Areena] – in Finnish
* [http://arenan.yle.fi/ Yle Arenan] – in Swedish
* [http://www.yle.fi/elavaarkisto/ Yle Elävä arkisto] – the Living Archive in Finnish
* [http://svenska.yle.fi/arkivet Yle Arkivet] – the Archive in Swedish
{{Div col end}}

{{Yle}}
{{Nordvision}}
{{European Broadcasting Union Members}}
{{World Radio Network}}
{{EU TV}}
{{EU Radio}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|60.203135|N|24.92549|E|region:FI|display=title|name=Iso Paja}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yle}}
[[Category:Yle| ]]
[[Category:Publicly funded broadcasters]]
[[Category:European Broadcasting Union members]]
[[Category:Commercial-free television networks]]
[[Category:Mass media companies of Finland]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 1926]]
[[Category:Television in Finland]]
[[Category:Companies based in Helsinki]]
[[Category:State media]]
[[Category:1926 establishments in Finland]]
[[Category:Finnish news websites]]
[[Category:Defunct shortwave radio stations]]
[[Category:YouTube channels launched in 2005]]