Allikmaa's Compromise Deal Rejected by ERR Sports Staff
ERR sports department has rejected an offer by chief executive Margus Allikmaa to partially reinstate Marko Kaljuveer, the head of the department until recently sacked by Allikmaa. That decision led to protests by ERR staff.
Allikmaa told uudised.err.ee on Friday, after a meeting between him and the sports department, that Kaljuveer can continue in his current position, but would hand strategic planning responsibilities to the board.
The department rejected the offer, saying the conflict between Allikmaa and Kaljuveer has escalated. Many middle managers have also taken Kaljuveer's side, saying that the conflict has become a issue of trust.
Kaljuveer was sacked on March 25, according to ERR managment, for not cultivating good relations with some sports associations in the country, while catering too heavily to mass-market viewer interests.
The row is essentially over covering small sports or larger events, even without Estonian representation. ERR, Estonia's public broadcasting service, had to ask the government for extra funds at the beginning of the year as it did not have the means to cover both the Sochi games and the 2014 football World Cup.