Several actors have asked EITB to reverse its decision to close ETB 3: "It can cause irreversible damage to the Euskera."

"We would like to ask EITB to reverse its decision to close the ETB3 children's channel and to stick its creation to the objective of normalizing the Basque language contained in the law, ensuring that all Basque children's content reaches all Basque households in a universal manner and at all times. "  is a request made to EITB by representatives of the Basque trade unions and the Basque trade unions, who believe that the disappearance of the Basque language may cause the Basque language.

On March 18, the Basque children's channel ETB3 stopped broadcasting, and instead, EITB has launched the ETB1 ON channel. In these early days, several ETB1 programmes have been broadcast on the new network, as well as live broadcasts. The content in Basque for children will henceforth be broadcast by the public media on the Makusi platform.

At the Teila Factory in Donostia-San Sebastián, Xumar Altzugarai and Markel Adin, representatives of the Euskera Screens and Change Script groups, respectively, took the floor on behalf of all the agents. They explained that although the free Makusi platform is visible on smart devices, "almost 40% of households" in the Basque Autonomous Community have no smart TV, and some TVs are not compatible.

They recall that during the years 80 and 90 cartoons in Basque — which were offered on the ETB1 channel — were "essential" to "Euskaldunize an entire generation". But they add that this decision "has a direct impact on the linguistic rights of children, since the disappearance of a universal network in Basque has limited their right to receive content in Basque" and that "the slowdown or delay in the normalization of the Basque language in recent years requires that the Basque language be kept open. "

The request has been supported by the Basque Council of Culture, the groups Pantailak Euskaraz and Aldatu Gidoi, the Ikastolas of Euskal Herria, Sortzen, the Taupa movement, the Hezten group, the Gazte Euskaltzaleen Sarea and the unions ELA, LAB, ESK and Steilas.

EITB's response

"Aware" that the suspension of the broadcast of ETB3 has created "a debate" in society, the management of EITB has announced that in the next few days it will meet with the agents who have opposed this measure,  "with an open attitude", to "explain the strategy "based on the public service  and to seek" improvements that can promote "the offer for children on terrestrial television.

He has also stressed that in the last two years the offer of content in Basque for children has been "strengthened" with the Makusi platform, which has been broadcast on the TV channels eta (ETB1, ETB2, ETB1 ON and ETB2 ON)  "more spaces". 

The media has also stressed that ETB1 On and ETB2 On have been created with two objectives: "On the one hand, that all EITB channels can be on the Internet, and on the other, that platforms are available. On the other hand, the initiative is a great opportunity to expand content and diversify the offer on ETB1 and ETB1 On, as happened last weekend."