The Lithuanian National Radio and Television (Lietuvos nacionalinis radijas ir televizija, LRT) is Lithuania’s national public service broadcaster. It has a long history dating back to 1926 when it first launched radio broadcasting. Television programs were added in 1957. Today, the broadcaster operates three television channels: LRT Televizija, which targets the general public; LRT Plius, which focuses on culture and sports; and LRT Lituanica, which aims at the Lithuanian diaspora. Additionally, there are three radio channels: LRT Radijas, catering to the general public; LRT Klasika, focusing on culture, classical music, and programs for minorities; and LRT Opus, specializing in contemporary music and programs for youth.
Media assets
Television: LRT Televizija, LRT Plius, LRT Lituanica
Radio: LRT Radijas, LRT Klasika, LRT Opus
State Media Matrix Typology: Independent Public (IP)
Ownership and governance
LRT is governed by the LRT Council, which oversees the implementation of the broadcaster’s mission and approves its annual budget.
The Council comprises 12 members who are appointed for six-year terms: four by the President, four by the Seimas (Lithuania’s Parliament), and four by civil society (including the Lithuanian Science Council, the Lithuanian Education Council, the Lithuanian Creative Artists Association, and the Lithuanian Bishops’ Conference).
The method of appointing the LRT Council involves several institutions to ensure the station’s political independence. By having diverse institutions appointing the board, no single political party or institution can gain excessive power over the broadcaster. Another measure to enhance the LRT Council’s independence is the rule that two of the members appointed by parliament must be chosen from candidates nominated by opposition MPs.
LRT also has an Administrative Commission, which consists of five members, all with management or financial expertise. This commission advises the LRT Council and the broadcaster’s management on economic issues. The Council appoints the members of the Administrative Commission for a four-year term.
Source of funding and budget
Since 2015, the LRT has been funded through a combination of tax-generated revenue in Lithuania, specifically 1% of the state budget revenue from personal income tax and 1.3% of the excise duties collected. This financing model was implemented to guarantee the LRT’s independence from both government institutions and corporations.
The funding model ensures that authorities cannot interfere in determining the station’s financial resources. The budget is calculated automatically and does not require government approval. Additionally, a rule establishes the minimum amount for LRT’s budget based on the income tax and excise duties for the year 2012.
In 2019, the government revealed its plans to take the issue of LRT’s funding model to the Constitutional Court. The government argued that the automatic calculation of the broadcaster’s budget restricted its ability to draft the state budget freely. In November 2020, the Constitutional Court dismissed the government’s case, stating that the current funding model of LRT does not violate the country’s Constitution. The decision was seen as solidifying the station’s financial independence.
In 2021, LRT operated with a budget of €53.54m, according to a company’s annual report. The budget increased to €55.43m the following year, as shown in the 2022 annual report. In 2023, the public fund appropriation for the LRT amounted to €63.4m. Some 59% of that was spent on content and roughly 32% to cover staff costs.
Editorial independence
Thanks to its governing structure, the Lithuanian public broadcaster is able to maintain its editorial independence and fulfill its public service mission. This structure prevents authorities or a single political group from exerting pressure on the station’s editorial policies. Additionally, the broadcaster’s funding model does not allow any authority to make changes in the LRT budget, thereby preventing the use of leverage to influence or blackmail the LRT’s management.
The LRT is governed by the LRT Law. This law describes the mission of the LRT as a public broadcaster that serves the public with diverse and quality programming independent from political and other external pressures. The broadcaster’s editorial independence is secured by its governance and funding, which prevent external pressures on its editorial policies and provide LRT with financial stability. This financial stability is extremely important for its long-term editorial independence.
A new law on LRT that came into effect on January 1, 2021 introduced the role of an Ethics Controller at the broadcaster. The Ethics Controller’s responsibility is to ensure that LRT journalists adhere to a set of ethical rules, including international professional standards. To maintain the controller’s neutrality, the LRT Council appoints individuals to this position through a public tender. The controller is appointed for a term of five years. Dainas Elena Andrikiene was appointed as the first Ethics Controller at LRT in May 2021.
August 2024