Latvian Television (Latvijas Televīzija, LTV) is Latvia’s public broadcaster, operating two channels: LTV1, which focuses on news, current affairs, children’s and cultural programs, and LTV7, which is dedicated to sports, youth programming, entertainment, and Russian-language programs.
Media assets
State Media Matrix Typology: Independent State Funded and State Managed (ISFM)
Ownership and governance
Previously, LTV operated as a state-owned limited liability company governed by the Electronic Media Law, the Law on Archives, and the National Strategy for the Development of the Electronic Media Sector for 2018-2022.
However, in 2020, LTV was restructured into a publicly-owned capital association, with the state holding the capital shares. The newly established Public Electronic Mass Media Council (SEPLP), comprised of three members, was tasked with holding the state’s capital shares in public media.
The highest governing body at LTV is the Board of Directors, which, according to the Public Electronic Mass Media and Their Management Law adopted in 2020, is appointed by the SEPLP.
There have been frequent incidents indicating the politicization of LTV’s governing body in recent years. Some observers expected the creation of the SEPLP to lead to more independence. At the same time, other journalists have expressed concerns that the composition of the SEPLP (three members appointed by the Saeima, the President, and civil society) may allow politicians to interfere with the station’s editorial independence. The SEPLP also has the right to appoint the head of the editorial at LTV. In April 2022, the SEPLP appointed two of the three members of the LTV board.
In January 2024, the Parliament in Riga approved the merger of Latvian Television and Latvian Radio, effective from 1 January 2025. The newly formed organization will operate as Latvia Public Media (Latvijas Sabiedriskas Medijs). The internet news portal LSM will also be integrated into the merged entity. The SEPLP will appoint a new chief editor for the new entity, who will oversee the chief editors of both Latvian Television and Latvian Radio. The merger idea was first proposed in 2009, with the initial concept for Latvian Public Media being developed in 2013.
Source of funding and budget
LTV is primarily funded by the government. In 2021, it operated with a total budget of €25.5m. As stated in the company’s annual report, about 92% of this budget came from state funding, which includes a state subsidy and additional grants from various state authorities. The remaining funding came from sources such as donations, sponsorships, and revenue from renting out technical equipment and television facilities.
Based on a 2018 decision by the Saeima (Latvia’s parliament), LTV ceased airing commercials in 2021. The government compensated for the decrease in funding from advertising sales.
As stated in the broadcaster’s annual report, in 2022, LTV reported a total income of €28.4m, of which €26.7m came from a state grant. In 2023, the station had revenues of €29.4, most of which came from state budget allocations.
Editorial independence
Latvians perceive LTV as a state-controlled body. According to a recent study, trust in the country’s public media is low. Less than 40% of the respondents agreed that the public media (including LTV) are independent.
The study linked Latvians’ lack of trust in public media to their general distrust of the Saeima. Despite political pressures on LTV, no specific incidents in recent years indicate government control over LTV’s editorial agenda.
No domestic statute establishing LTV’s editorial independence has been found during the latest research for this report.
The new public media law was adopted in 2020, and the office of the Public Media Ombudsman was established. The first Public Media Ombudsman, an independent expert working as an academic, was appointed in December 2021.
August 2024