Television in Latvia

Last updated

Television in Latvia was first tested in 1937 and introduced in 1954. Latvia was the first country in the Baltic States which started broadcasting.

Contents

Initial research into television broadcasting in Latvia started in 1932, and the first experimental broadcast of television in Latvia took place on 10 November 1937 during a public viewing at the Latvian Radio Society (Latvian : Latvijas Radio biedrība) in Riga, using an amateur-made oscilloscope with the screen size of 45x50 cm. A Philips custom-built Nipkow disk transmitter used a frequency channel provide by the Department of the Post and Telegraph (Pasta un telegrāfa departaments, PTD) to transmit moving images with the speed of 12,5 frames per second. [1] There were plans to launch regular broadcasts of "visual radio" by the Latvian Radiophone in the early 1940s, but these were suspended by the occupation of Latvia and World War II. [2]

The first contemporary test broadcasts started on 6 November 1954 from a studio in Soviet Riga in black-and-white, which were seen by all 20 then-owners of television sets. Regular scheduled broadcasting of Latvian Television (LTV) started on 20 November 1954 with a premiere of the 1954 Soviet Latvian war epic Victorious Return . At the beginning, LTV didn't have rights to create their own programming except live shows. In 1955, the Riga Television studio in Nometņu iela, Āgenskalns was created to produce its own programming and the first TV tower in Latvia was built. In 1986, a new TV building and broadcasting tower were unveiled in Zaķusala. [3]

Since 1991, the first private television studios started broadcasting. Color television was introduced in 1974. At the beginning, color system used was SECAM and only color programming that was available in color, was a retransmission of the Moscow Central Television. But in 1998 SECAM was swapped for PAL. Digital television was started testing in May 2002 and all terrestrial analogue stations stopped broadcasting on 1 June 2010 after introducing it. [3] Advertising on public broadcasters, such as Latvian Television (LTV) was phased out on 1 January 2021. [4]

The independent, state budget-financed National Electronic Mass Media Council (NEPLP) is the national media watchdog (similar to Ofcom in UK). [5]

Most of the non-Latvian television programs are dubbed, some are subtitled, but some are both dubbed and subtitled. This is a list of television channels that broadcast for a Latvian language audience.

TV channels

No.Channel nameFree-to-airAvailable in HD OwnerDescription
1. LTV1 YesYesLatvijas Televīzijadocumentaries, news, politics, satire, series, films, children's programming
2. LTV7 YesYesnews, sport, entertainment, series, films
3. TV3 NoYesAll Media Latviafilms, series, sports, news
4. TV4 YesYes4.varasports, educational programmes, discussion events, conference live streams[ citation needed ]
5. TV3 Life NoYesAll Media Latviawomen's programmes, lifestyle programmes, series, films
6. 360 TV NoYesHelio Mediaseries, films, documentaries
7. TV6 NoYesAll Media Latviamen's programmes, series, films, sports
8. STV NoYesHelio Mediawomen's programmes, lifestyle programmes, series
9. TV3 Mini NoYesAll Media Latviachildren's programming, series, films
10. TV24 YesYesTV Latvijanews, politics, series, culture, lifestyle programmes
11. ReTV YesYes *Only websiteRe MEDIAregional programmes, news, documentaries
12. Best4Sport TV NoYesB4 Media UPsports
13. Go3 Sport 1 NoYesAll Media Estoniasports
14. FX Latvia NoYesFox Networks Group Espanaentertainment, series, films
15.FX Life LatviaNoYesentertainment, series, films
16. National Geographic Latvia NoYesNGC Europe Limitednature, science, documentaries
17. Discovery Channel Europe NoDiscovery Corporate Services Limitedscience, documentaries
18. Latvijas Šlāgerkanāls NoMūzikas Video Kanālsmusic, mostly Schlager
19. Mūzikas Video NoYes *Only websitemusic
20. KidZone Max NoDuo Media Networks OÜ (DMN Latvija)children's programming (from 06:00 to 01:00 hrs. only), music (from 01:00 to 06:00 hrs.)
21. Pingvīns NoTeledistributionchildren's programming in Latvian, Russian.
22. Duo 3 NoYesDuo Media Networks OÜ (DMN Latvija)series, films
23. Duo 6 NoYesfilms, comedy series
24.Kanal 7NoYesRussian, films, series, news
25. 8TV NoYesHelio MediaRussian, entertainment, films, series

Local / regional / international TV stations

Defunct channels

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riga Radio and TV Tower</span> Television tower in Riga, Latvia

The Riga Radio and TV Tower in Riga, Latvia is the tallest tower in the European Union. It was built between 1979 and 1989 with funding from the central government of the Soviet Union. Its highest point reaches 368.5 metres (1,209 ft), which makes it the third tallest tower in Europe and the 15th tallest self-supporting tower in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Historical Latvian Lands</span> Regions of Latvia

Historical Latvian Lands or formerly Cultural regions of Latvia are several areas within Latvia formally recognised as distinct from the rest of the country. These are: Kurzeme (Courland), Zemgale, Latgale, Vidzeme, and Sēlija (Selonia). While some of these regions are seen purely as culturally distinct, others have historically been parts of different countries and have been used to divide the country for administrative and other purposes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Latgalian language</span> Eastern Baltic language

Latgalian is an Eastern Baltic language, although it is sometimes considered a dialect of Latvian. The Latvian language law classifies it as a "historical form of Latvian". It is mostly spoken in Latgale, the eastern part of Latvia. Its standardized form is recognized and protected as a "historical language of Latvia" under national law. The 2011 Latvian census established that 8.8% of Latvia's inhabitants, or 164,500 people, speak Latgalian daily. 97,600 of them live in Latgale, 29,400 in Riga and 14,400 in the Riga Planning Region.

Latvijas Televīzija is the state-owned public service television broadcaster in Latvia. LTV operates two channels, LTV1 in Latvian and LTV7 in Latvian with selected programming in Russian.

Latvian Independent Television was a major private television company in Latvia, founded in 1996. LNT featured TV series, news and entertainment programmes, airing 24 hours a day in Latvian. It went off the air on March 1, 2020, and was replaced by TV3 Life.

TV6 Latvia is an entertainment television channel broadcasting to Latvia featuring series, music, fashion and sports. It was launched on April 22, 2007. The programmes broadcast on the channel include The Simpsons, United States of Tara, Las Vegas, Harper's Island, American Idol, Survivor, My name is Earl, Family Guy, Shark, CSI: Miami, The Office, Sex and the City and more.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Latvijas Radio</span> National public-service radio network in Latvia

Latvijas Radio is Latvia's national public-service radio broadcasting network. It began broadcasting on 1 November 1925, and has its headquarters in the Latvian capital, Riga. Latvijas Radio broadcasts six different channels in the FM band as well as via the internet: Latvijas Radio 1, Latvijas Radio 2, Latvijas Radio 3 – Klasika, Latvijas Radio 4 – Doma laukums, Latvijas Radio 5 – Pieci.lv, and Latvijas Radio 6 – Radio NABA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Planning regions of Latvia (before 2021)</span>

There are five planning regions of Latvia ; Kurzeme, Latgale, Riga, Vidzeme and Zemgale. The boundaries of the regions aligns to the boundaries of the municipalities of Latvia following the municipality reform of 1 July 2009. The planning regions of Latvia are not administrative territorial divisions, since they are not mentioned in the law that prescribes the administrative territorial divisions of Latvia. They were replaced with new planning regions in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia</span> Open-air living museum in Riga, Latvia

The Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia is an open-air museum located just outside Riga, the capital of Latvia, on the lightly wooded shores of Jugla Lake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Latvian parliamentary election</span> Parliamentary election held in Latvia

Parliamentary elections were held in Latvia on 6 October 2018. Following the elections, a coalition government was formed by Who owns the state?, the New Conservative Party, Development/For!, the National Alliance and New Unity. Despite being from the smallest elected party, Arturs Krišjānis Kariņš of New Unity was chosen as Prime Minister.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Unity</span> Political alliance in Latvia

The New Unity is a centre-right political alliance in Latvia. Its members are Unity and four other regional parties, and it is orientated towards liberal-conservatism and liberalism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Statistical regions of Latvia</span> Subnational regions

There are six statistical regions in Latvia are Kurzeme, Latgale, Pierīga, Rīga, Vidzeme and Zemgale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Public Broadcasting of Latvia</span> Latvian government radio and TV

Public Broadcasting of Latvia is a publicly funded radio and television organization operated by both of Latvia's public broadcasters – Latvian Television and Radio Latvia. LSM provides news, analysis, culture, entertainment and new experimental content, produced mainly by Latvian Television and Radio Latvia, and by the portal’s editorial personnel. The site was launched on 3 February 2013. LSM content is also available in Russian and English. News content in English was made available from 1 July 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">State Police (Latvia)</span>

The State Police of Latvia is the national police service and one of the national law enforcement agencies of the Republic of Latvia. It is subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior. The agency is divided into five Regional Administrations. Since the 13th of October 2020, the Chief of the State Police is Armands Ruks.

Latvia originally planned to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 with the song "Still Breathing" written by Samanta Tīna and Aminata Savadogo. The song was performed by Samanta Tīna. Songwriter Aminata Savadogo represented Latvia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 with the song "Love Injected" where she placed sixth in the grand final of the competition. The Latvian broadcaster Latvijas Televīzija (LTV) organized the national final Supernova 2020 in order to select the Latvian entry for the 2020 contest in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Nine songs were selected to compete in the national final on 8 February 2020 where a public televote exclusively selected "Still Breathing" performed by Samanta Tīna as the winner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jānis Puriņš</span> Latvian Riflemen

Jānis Puriņš was a Latvian Rifleman and later colonel, commander of the 1st Kurzeme Division of the Latvian Army and commander of the Eastern Front during the Latgale liberation operation during the Latvian War of Independence. He received the Knight's rank of the Order of Lāčplēsis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fourteenth Saeima of Latvia</span> Parliament of Latvia 2022–2026

The Fourteenth Saeima of Latvia was elected in the 2022 Latvian parliamentary election held on 1 October 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Planning regions of Latvia (from 2021)</span>

There are five planning regions of Latvia after a 2021 reform: Kurzeme Planning Region, Latgale Planning Region, Riga Planning Region, Vidzeme Planning Region and Zemgale Planning Region. The boundaries of the regions align with the boundaries of the municipalities of Latvia following the municipality reform of 1 July 2009. The planning regions of Latvia are not administrative territorial divisions, since they are not mentioned in the law that prescribes the administrative territorial divisions of Latvia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Baltic channel</span> Russian-language television channel in the Baltic states

First Baltic channel was a Baltic pay television channel based on the largest Russian Channel One to broadcast its programs in the Baltic states. It was launched on 4 September 2002. The channel had also broadcast the local news programme Latvian time since June 2003. The channel was closed in Latvia on 26 October 2021 due to misinformation about COVID-19 and two other violations. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, its license was revoked and the channel was effectively banned in all three Baltic States.

References

  1. "Šodien televīzijai Latvijā 80 gadu. Latvija bija viena no pirmajām pasaules valstīm, kas raidīja savu TV signālu" [Television in Latvia turns 80 this year. Latvia was one of the first countries to broadcast its own TV signal]. Sandra Veinberga | Blogs (in Latvian). 2017-11-10. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  2. "televīzija Latvijā" [Television in Latvia]. Latvian National Encyclopedia (in Latvian). Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  3. 1 2 "Vēsture un Fakti / LTV.LV" [History and Facts | LTV]. ltv.lsm.lv. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  4. "Public media exits the advertising market". Public Broadcasting of Latvia . 2021-01-02. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
  5. "NEPLP - About us". www.neplpadome.lv. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  6. "Uzziņa: Latvijā aizliegtie 80 Krievijas TV kanāli" [80 Russian TV channels banned in Latvia]. www.delfi.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 24 January 2023.