Latvian Television
Latvia's state-owned public-service television broadcaster, operating the LTV1 and LTV7 channels.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Latvian Television, commonly abbreviated LTV and known in Latvian as Latvijas Televīzija, is Latvia's national public-service television broadcaster. It operates two principal television services: LTV1, whose schedule is centered on Latvian-language news, public affairs, culture, education and entertainment, and LTV7, a broader service historically associated with sport, general entertainment and selected Russian-language programming. The broadcaster also distributes programming through online services connected with Latvia's public media system, including REplay.lv and the diaspora-oriented Visiem LTV service. LTV's origins extend to the development of television broadcasting in Riga during the Soviet period. Experimental television activity had been demonstrated before the Second World War, but regular contemporary television transmissions began in November 1954. The Riga television studio developed its own production capacity during the following year, and LTV gradually evolved from a relay service into a national broadcaster with original news, cultural and entertainment output. Its first evening news program went to air in 1958 and was renamed Panorāma in 1963; the program remains one of the best-known institutions in Latvian broadcasting. A second channel was introduced in 1961. Both channels moved to color broadcasting in 1974, and the broadcaster's principal technical infrastructure in Riga, including the television tower and the Zaķusala headquarters complex, was completed during the 1980s. During Latvia's national awakening in the late 1980s and the restoration of independence, LTV became an important forum for more open political discussion. The program Labvakar became particularly associated with the period's public debate and criticism of Soviet rule. LTV facilities were also involved in the defense of Latvia's democratic institutions during the January 1991 Barricades, while an OMON unit seized the broadcaster's building during the failed Soviet coup attempt in August 1991, temporarily interrupting broadcasts. Following the restoration of Latvian independence, LTV joined the European Broadcasting Union on 1 January 1993, replacing its earlier membership in the International Radio and Television Organisation. The second service was relaunched as LTV7 in 2003, with a revised identity and programming strategy. During the 1990s and 2000s, LTV also navigated a more competitive television market, including changes in the distribution of imported television series and the growth of commercial broadcasters. The broadcaster participated in Latvia's transition from analogue to digital television. Digital terrestrial transmission began in 2008, the MPEG-4 standard was introduced in 2009, and analogue distribution was phased out between 2010 and 2011. LTV7 adopted widescreen production before LTV1, and both services subsequently moved toward high-definition production. A gradual transition to Full HD began in 2021 for cable and online distribution, with the news service Panorāma introducing a new studio and visual presentation later that year. LTV has been part of Latvia's public-media integration process with Latvijas Radio. Since 2013, the two broadcasters have shared the LSM.lv news portal and REplay.lv streaming platform under the Public Broadcasting of Latvia framework. The institutional merger of Latvian Television and Latvijas Radio into the unified Latvian public media organization was completed on 2 January 2025. For many years LTV combined government funding with advertising revenue. In June 2018, Latvia's parliament approved legislation enabling the public broadcasters to leave the advertising market. After the required budget arrangements were made, LTV and Latvijas Radio became fully funded from the state budget on 1 January 2021. The change was intended to provide a more stable public-service funding model, although the use of direct state financing had also been debated because of concerns about the broadcaster's institutional independence. LTV is a prominent carrier of national events and international competitions. It broadcasts the Eurovision Song Contest in Latvia, hosted Eurovision in Riga in 2003 after Latvia's victory, and has carried major sports including the Olympic Games, the FIFA World Cup, national and international ice hockey, and Latvian team competitions. It hosted the 2006 and 2021 IIHF Men's Ice Hockey Championships and the first Eurovision Choir of the Year competition in 2017. Its continuing role is that of a universal public broadcaster serving Latvian audiences through linear television, digital platforms and selected international online access.
History
Television activity in Latvia predates the creation of the modern broadcaster. A public demonstration of experimental television took place in Riga in 1937 through the Latvian Radio Society, but plans for regular pre-war broadcasting were disrupted by the occupation of Latvia and the Second World War. Contemporary television broadcasting developed under Soviet rule. Test transmissions from a Riga studio began on 6 November 1954, initially reaching a very small number of television owners, and regular broadcasting commenced on 20 November of the same year. This established what became Latvia's oldest national television service and one of the earliest television broadcasters in the Baltic region. In 1955, the Riga Television studio in Āgenskalns was established to produce original programming. LTV initially had limited autonomy and was not permitted to originate all of its own content, but its production role expanded over time. A second television channel launched in 1961. The channels adopted SECAM color broadcasting in 1974, while the Riga television tower and the main television headquarters at Zaķusala were completed in the 1980s. The first evening news broadcast aired on 19 March 1958. It was renamed Panorāma in 1963 and became the enduring title of LTV's principal news program. The political opening associated with glasnost and the Latvian national awakening transformed LTV's public role. Programs such as Labvakar provided space for political discussion and criticism of Soviet authority. During the January 1991 Barricades, the Zaķusala facilities were among the strategically important locations defended by supporters of Latvia's independence. On 21 August 1991, during the attempted Soviet coup, an OMON unit took control of the LTV building and broadcasts were suspended for two days. After independence was restored, LTV left the Soviet broadcasting framework and joined the European Broadcasting Union on 1 January 1993. Before that date, it had been associated with the International Radio and Television Organisation. The post-independence period brought competition from commercial television and changes in the distribution of imported programming. LTV2 was relaunched as LTV7 in 2003 with a new brand and programming concept. The broadcaster also adapted its technical infrastructure to the digital transition. Digital terrestrial broadcasting began in 2008, the transmission standard changed to MPEG-4 in 2009, and analogue distribution ended in stages during 2010. LTV7 moved to widescreen production in 2012, followed by LTV1 in 2013. Selected events were produced in high definition before the broadcaster began a wider HD upgrade. In 2021, cable and online services started a gradual Full HD transition, and the LTV news service introduced a new studio and graphics package. LTV's public-media role broadened through cooperation with Latvijas Radio. From 2013, the two organizations shared the LSM.lv news portal and REplay.lv online service as part of Latvia's public-broadcasting integration. In 2016, LTV launched Visiem LTV, an online service aimed largely at the Latvian diaspora and carrying programming that could be distributed internationally without rights restrictions. Funding was a central institutional issue. Until the end of 2020, LTV relied on a combination of government support and advertising. Latvia's parliament approved legislation in 2018 allowing the public broadcasters to exit the advertising market, and the government allocated the necessary funds in 2020. From 1 January 2021, LTV and Latvijas Radio were financed entirely through the state budget. This removed commercial advertising from their principal funding model but left continuing public debate about the risks and safeguards associated with direct state financing. LTV has repeatedly served as Latvia's host and broadcaster for major international events. It hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 2003, the IIHF Men's Ice Hockey Championships in 2006 and 2021, and the inaugural Eurovision Choir of the Year competition in 2017. LTV1 carries the Eurovision Song Contest for Latvian viewers, while LTV7 has a strong sports identity, showing the Olympic Games, football, ice hockey and Latvian national and league competitions. The organizational merger of LTV and Latvijas Radio into Latvia's unified public media organization was completed on 2 January 2025.
- 2025
Merger into unified Latvian public media completed
[1]The institutional merger of LTV and Latvijas Radio into the Public Broadcasting of Latvia organization was completed on 2 January.
- 2021
Leaves the advertising market
[1]LTV became fully funded by the Latvian state budget from 1 January.
- 2021
Full HD transition begins
[1]Cable and online distribution began a gradual transition to 1080p, followed by an HD news-studio launch.
- 2017
Hosts Eurovision Choir of the Year
[1]LTV hosted the inaugural Eurovision Choir of the Year competition.
- 2016
Visiem LTV online service launches
[1]LTV introduced an online channel for foreign viewers, particularly members of the Latvian diaspora.
- 2013
Public-media integration expands
[1]LTV and Latvijas Radio began sharing the LSM.lv news portal and REplay.lv streaming service.
- 2008
Digital terrestrial broadcasting begins
[1]LTV entered Latvia's digital terrestrial television transition, later adopting MPEG-4 transmission.
- 2003
LTV2 is relaunched as LTV7
[1]The second channel received a new name, identity and programming strategy.
- 2003
Hosts the Eurovision Song Contest
[1]LTV hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in Riga.
- 1993
Joins the European Broadcasting Union
[1]LTV became a member of the EBU on 1 January after the end of its association with the OIRT.
Products and positioning
National public-service broadcaster focused on Latvian news, culture, information, education, entertainment and major sports and cultural events.
Public-service television channel
LTV1
LTV1 is LTV's principal Latvian-language channel. Its schedule emphasizes national and international news, current affairs, culture, education, public-interest programming, entertainment and major national events. It carries the Eurovision Song Contest for Latvian audiences and includes Panorāma, the broadcaster's long-running flagship news program.
Public-service television channel · 1961
LTV7
LTV7 is LTV's second channel, originally launched as LTV2 and rebranded in 2003. It has a strong sports and general-programming profile, carrying events such as the Olympic Games, ice hockey championships, FIFA World Cup coverage and Latvian national and league competitions. Until 2025, selected programming also used Russian, alongside Latvian output.
Television news program · 1958
Panorāma
Panorāma is LTV's principal evening news program. It originated with the first LTV evening news broadcast in 1958 and received its current name in 1963. The program covers Latvian politics, society, international affairs and major public events and remains a central component of the broadcaster's public-service mission.
Online streaming platform
REplay.lv
REplay.lv is an online video and catch-up service shared by Latvia's public broadcasters. It extends LTV programming beyond linear television and forms part of the integrated digital distribution system associated with LTV and Latvijas Radio.
International online television service · 2016
Visiem LTV
Visiem LTV, also styled VisiemLTV.lv, was launched in 2016 for viewers outside Latvia, especially the Latvian diaspora. It combines selected LTV1 and LTV7 programming that is sufficiently clear of copyright restrictions to be made available internationally.
Marketing campaigns
- 2017Eurovision Choir of the Year
Latvia · International
LTV hosted the inaugural Eurovision Choir of the Year competition, extending its involvement in Eurovision-branded cultural programming beyond the main song contest.
Outcome. The inaugural competition was staged in Latvia with LTV serving as the host broadcaster.
- 2003Eurovision Song Contest Riga
Latvia · International
LTV hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in Riga after Latvia's victory in the preceding competition, placing the national broadcaster at the center of one of Europe's largest live television events.
Outcome. The event was delivered in Riga and reinforced LTV's role as Latvia's principal broadcaster for major international cultural events.
Brand decisions
2025
Completion of the LTV–Latvijas Radio mergerM&ABackground
LTV and Latvijas Radio had shared digital infrastructure and a public-media integration framework since 2013.
Action taken
The two public broadcasters were institutionally merged into the Public Broadcasting of Latvia organization on 2 January 2025.
Aftermath
The merger consolidated Latvia's public television and radio operations within a unified public-media structure while retaining LTV's television services.
2021
Transition to Full HD distributionGeneration changeBackground
A broader HDTV conversion had been discussed for several years but was delayed by financial and technical constraints.
Action taken
After technology upgrades, LTV began moving its cable and online broadcasts to 1080p on 19 May 2021 and introduced a new HD news studio and visual package on 30 August.
Aftermath
The transition improved the technical quality of LTV's linear and digital output, with terrestrial distribution scheduled to follow the cable and online changes.
2018
Parliament approves withdrawal from advertisingStrategyBackground
Latvia had debated public-media funding for years, with LTV historically combining government support and commercial advertising.
Action taken
In June 2018, the Saeima unanimously approved legislative amendments allowing LTV and Latvijas Radio to leave the advertising market and move toward full state-budget financing.
Aftermath
The required funding was allocated in 2020, and both broadcasters exited the advertising market on 1 January 2021. The model improved separation from commercial revenue but continued to prompt debate about public-media independence from government.
Recent events
- 2025
LTV completes the institutional merger into Latvia's unified public media organization[1]
M&A
The merger of Latvian Television and Latvijas Radio into the Public Broadcasting of Latvia organization was completed on 2 January 2025.
- 2021
Latvian Television and Latvijas Radio become fully state-budget funded[1]
Regulation
LTV and Latvijas Radio left the advertising market on 1 January 2021 after legislation and budget arrangements established full state-budget financing for the public broadcasters.
- 2021
LTV begins its Full HD transition[1]
Product generation · Other
Following technology upgrades, LTV began a gradual move to 1080p distribution for cable and online services in May 2021; the news service introduced a new HD studio and visual identity in August.
Sources1 sources
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