Media
Resources about media
Internets un masu mediji
A blog by Uldis Zariņš, product development director for the news agency LETA, covering Internet and mass media issues. LV
Latvijas Valsts radio un televīzijas centrs
The state-run radio and television center "provides terrestrial broadcasting of radio and television programmes covering whole territory of Latvia." EN LV
Nacionālā radio un televīzijas padome
Latvia's National Radio and Television Board, formed in 1995, licenses broadcasters. LV
Latvian television online
Throughout Latvia people now may view programming from many different television broadcasters, both homegrown and from beyond the borders. State television and a few commercial broadcasters beam signals from Rīga, while a handful of regional broadcasters, such as Latgales Televīzija, operate for localized audiences. Television broadcasters from Russia also find their way into Latvia, while consumers with cable or satellite hookups can get a wider variety of programming from Western Europe and beyond. A few of these broadcasters now provide some of their programs via the Web (and we strongly recommend a broadband connection for watching them). Here's our directory of what's available. To watch RealAudio streaming video, you will need the free RealPlayer software from Real Networks. To watch Windows Media streaming video, you will need the free Windows Media Player software from Microsoft.
TV24, a television service provided by the news agency LETA, may be viewed live online.
Chat TV
www.chattv.lv
Chat TV is an interactive service broadcast on the IZZI cable network in Latvia. The service mostly runs music videos. LV
Live Live stream (Windows Media)
Latvijas Mūzikas kanāls (LMK)
www.muzikaskanals.lv
Latvijas Mūzikas kanāls began broadcasting in 2006 on the Baltkom cable service and is owned by Rimants Liepiņš, head of Platforma Records. Its stated mission is to showcase music videos from Latvia, no matter in which language.
Live stream, low (Windows Media)
Live stream, high (Windows Media)
Latvijas Neatkarīgā televīzija (LNT)
www.lnt.lv
The largest commercial television broadcaster has grown quickly since its founding and has the largest audience share of any station in Latvia. In fact, it’s a bit of a media empire, with its fingers not only television, but also in film and radio (and, at one time, in the former Fokuss newspaper). Along with its sister station, TV5, LNT was purchased in May 2007 by News Corp., the media company controlled by Rupert Murdoch. An archive of nightly news shows is offered through the TVNET portal, while a live stream of a nightly news update also is available. LV
Live LNT Ziņas at 19:57 hours Latvian time (Windows Media)
Latvijas Televīzija (LTV)
www.ltv.lv
Latvia’s public television broadcaster offers two channels, LTV1 and LTV7, neither of which can be viewed on the Web in real time. However, fans of the nightly news program “Panorāma” as well as other shows may use a pay-per-view archive provided through a partnership with the Apollo portal. (Archives of “Panorāma” used to be available for free.) Founded in 1954, Latvian Television is based on Zaķusala in the tall black building that seems to rise out of the Daugava River (not far from Latvia’s tallest structure, the television antenna tower). LV
Latvijas Ziņu kanāls (LZK)
www.lzk.lv
LZK is a 24-hour news service run by Latvijas Neatkarīgā televīzija (LNT).
Live stream (Windows Media)
Первый Балтийский Музыкальный Канал
www.1music.tv
The Russian-language channel, known in Latvian as Pirmais Baltijas mūzikas kanāls (First Baltic Music Channel), is based in Rīga. It broadcasts Russian-language music videos. RU
Live stream (Windows Media)
TV3
www.tv3.lv
Sweden’s Modern Times Group has media properties throughout Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, including TV3 in Rīga. The station provides some of its programming, such as “Dejo ar zvaigzni,” as recorded video its Web site. LV
TV5
www.tvnet.lv/tv5
TV5 began operation in October 2001. Its signal covers the greater Rīga area. Broadcasts can be seen in the capital from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily. Billing itself as “interactive television,” TV5 is linked to the TVNET Web portal and to Latvijas Neatkarīgā televīzija. In May 2007, media mogul Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. acquired a controlling interest in TV5. LV
Live stream (Windows Media)
TV24
www.tv24.lv
The news agency LETA now has a 24-hours news channel that can be seen in Latvia on the Baltkom cable television network or, through its streamed signal online, anywhere in the world. The service provides not just news headlines, but also commentary and analysis. LV
Live stream (280 kps) (Windows Media)
Live stream (900 kps) (Windows Media)
TV.LV
www.tv.lv
Organized by the Rīga-based computer software firm Tilde Ltd., this Web site has online streaming media archives of a number of Latvian television programs. This is arguably the most diverse television site in Latvia. Among the offerings are TV3’s current affairs satire program “Bez tabū,” the computer show “Nākotnes parks” and the car-and-driver program “Zebra.” All the recorded shows require Windows Media Player for viewing. LV
Vidzemes televīzija
www.vtv.lv
The regional broadcaster based in Valmiera went on the air in 1992 and serves much of Vidzeme province. A number of VTV’s programs, including the nightly news program “Vakara vēstīs,” are available for viewing from the station’s online archive. LV
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