Check out Yle’s top contents and services in 2021!
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021 was a celebration of major sports events and shared experiences at Yle.
FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
were organised in Oberstdorf. Viewers were particularly interested in the men’s 50 km competition.
Contest for New Music (UMK)
In February, seven performers competed for the top spot in the Contest for New Music. According to the jury of professionals, the selection of artists and songs in 2021 was the best the competition has ever seen.
The first prize went to Blind Channel for Dark Side.
Men’s UEFA European Championships
The Euro 2020 football match between Finland and Belgium was Yle’s most popular sports broadcast in 2021.
It was seen by over two million viewers.
Tokyo Olympic Games
Eurovision Song Contest
The live final broadcast from Rotterdam was, once again, viewed by over a million people.
The winner was Måneskin from Italy, while Blind Channel came in sixth.
We produced content for six different radio channels and four TV channels, not to mention Yle Areena and the Yle service.
Yle's audiodrama
The radio play on Armi Aavikko (Armi Aavikko – siinä välissä olin elossa) has attracted a record-high number of listeners. The radio play also received an award from the Cultural Services for the Visually Impaired.
Nose Day Laugh Marathon
Viki and Köpi’s Nose Day Laugh Marathon generated a record-high amount of donations for charity.
Yle X3M Nose Day
Kjell "From Hell" Simosas hosted a special Nose Day live broadcast that lasted for a total of 66 hours and 6 minutes.
Luottomies (Wingman)
The fans’ patience was rewarded as the third season of the series was launched on Yle Areena.
Elämäni Biisi (The Song of My Life)
Throughout the season, the programme included great emotions and intimate stories from well-known guests.
Kullannuput
Sisäilmaa
Yle’s original series Sisäilmaa and Service Manager Anneli Tiainen charmed both the audience and critics.
Muistojen bulevardi
continued as the most popular programme on Yle Radio 1.
Lapland Dreaming
The documentary series on people who have made a major lifestyle change and moved to Lapland seemed to appeal to Yle viewers.
LakeusLIFE
The reality show on the life of twenty-something people in Ostrobothnia was one of the surprise favourites of the year.
Politiikka-Suomi
the series was awarded as the Journalistic Act of 2021 at the Grand Journalist Award.
Yle Areena
was used more than three million times every day. Yle Areena is the most popular streaming service in Finland.
High-quality programmes for children and young people are viewed as an important part of Yle’s service.
Reppu-Heppu and Botti
Erityiset
The series introduced a fictional small class with six very special pupils in a Finnish comprehensive school.
Pyjamasirkus
Yle Mix
The children’s news service became a part of the new youth news desk, which engages both in daily news journalism and separate news and current affairs contents aimed especially at people under the age of 30.
Yle Watt-Nytt
Swedish Yle launched a new news concept for 8-12 year olds. Watt Nytt creates content for Tiktok, Yle Arenan and also newsletters for teachers.
As the COVID-19 restrictions were gradually lifted, we were also able to participate in various events.
Yle celebrated its 95th anniversary
On 9 September, we celebrated Yle’s birthday with a joyful streamed party between Yle employees.
Lost in Music
Kulttuurigaala (Cultural Gala)
The gala was all about celebrating and rewarding Finnish culture as well as cultural operators and individuals.
For example, actress Seela Sella was awarded at the Gala as the cultural personality of the year.
Pidä huolta
A support concert for the event sector was organised at Tavastia. Yle recorded the concert.
We produced programmes and services for different language groups and minorities.
Pala sydämestä
This Yle original set in the world of child welfare services stirred interest also on the international level. The series was launched on Yle Areena with audio descriptions.
At the request of the audience, the animated classic Snowman was also broadcasted with audio descriptions at Christmas. In 2021, Yle’s range of content with audio descriptions went from 85 hours of programming to 142 hours.
Efter Nio
The flagship of Swedish Yle was renewed with Janne Grönroos as the new host.
Presidential Independence Day Reception
The reception was aired as a bilingual live broadcast, which was interpreted into both Finnish and Swedish sign language.
Up-to-date news on COVID-19 were offered in several different languages. Sarah Peltonen is hosting a Persian-language broadcast in the photo.
FRSO got a new conductor
Nicholas Collon kicked off his term successfully in August 2021.
YleX’s summer rubber song
Arttu Wiskari’s and Erika Vikman’s Tääl on niin kuuma was YleX’s official summer rubber song in 2021.
Darravapaana
The podcast by Laura Wathén and Katri Ylinen was awarded at the podcast gala Audioland Awards as the best show in the well-being category. The series is available for listening on Yle Areena.
YLE News
2021 was a significant news year with several major events, ranging from the occupation of the US Congress to municipal elections in Finland and international crises.