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Lithuanian Broadcasting Landscape Reshaped In 1994, the Lithuanian Board of Radio and TV, a public body in charge of overview of broadcasting in the republic, made a number of steps in re-allocating the TV channels in order to “increased the diversity of programming.” The viewers still have Channel 1 run by the State TV and Radio Company (LTVR), but as soon as it finishes its programs after midnight, they can now watch broadcasts of two Vilnius-based private companies, “AR” and “Channel 5,” which share the time and fill it with American movies, soap operas, and paid advertising and promotional programs. National Channel 2 is allocated to the Moscow-based Ostankino TV (former First Program of the USSR television), but according to Mr. Gediminas Ilgunas, Chairman of the Radio and TV Board, it is conditional on the continuation of Ostankino’s payment for the relay of its Russian-language programming. A possibility remains open that the frequency will reallocated to the Russian TV Company RTV (former Second Program of Soviet TV), which would like to renew its broadcasts in Lithuania. This latter was operational here till 1992. The third national channel (former RTV), in the hands of a private company “Tele 3” is run by an American of Lithuanian descent, Ms. Liucija Baskauskas. Under the new owner since 1992, the channel rebroadcasts US programming received from satellites. A new private TV company, “Litpolinter,” has just entered into an agreement with “Tele 3” to use the channel for its own locally produced programming of 8 hours twice a week. “Litpolinter’s” strategy seems to be a commercials-supported financial success. Channel 4, which covers half of the Lithuanian territory (Vilnius and Polish-populated areas), re-transmits for 45 hours a week programming of the First Polish Channel from Warsaw. Part of this time is given to the “Baltic TV” company, a private company financially controlled by an American businessman of Lithuanian descent. “The Baltic TV” was established to target native Poles and Belarussians in 1991, it broadcasts from Vilnius, but now it ends to become a more commercial-oriented local station. This January, LTVR was permitted by the Board to start joint operation of Channel 11 together with an international broadcaster “Kinnevik,” “Kinnevik” holds 49 percent and LTVR 51 percent of the shares of this joint venture. The channel will be seen in the capital and its suburbs, its programming channel will be seen in the capital and its suburbs, its programming consisting of Western movies, series and commercials. Marius Lukosiunas |
Last Updated: 11/20/99 |
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© 1999 Post-Soviet Media Law &
Policy Newsletter |
