Latvian Television
Latvijas Televīzija (Latvian Television, LTV) is the state-owned public service television broadcaster in Latvia. LTV operates two channels, LTV1 in Latvian and LTV7 (previously called LTV2) in Latvian with selected programming in Russian.
| Type | Public broadcaster |
|---|---|
| Country | |
| Availability | Latvia, online |
| Headquarters | Riga |
| Owner | Government of Latvia |
Key people | Ivars Priede (Chairman of the Board) |
Launch date | 6 November 1954 |
Picture format | 1080i (HDTV), SD (some content) |
Channels | LTV1 LTV7 (formerly known as LTV2) |
| Affiliation(s) | Public Broadcasting of Latvia European Broadcasting Union |
Official website | ltv |
The broadcaster has been fully funded by the state budget since 1 January 2021, when, after years of debate, it and radio broadcaster Latvijas Radio exited the advertising market. It is currently led by Ivars Priede, the Chairman of the Board.
LTV is a member of the European Broadcasting Union, having joined on 1 January 1993. From the restoration of independence in 1991 to 31 December 1992, it was a member of the International Radio and Television Organisation (OIRT). LTV hosted the annual Eurovision Song Contest in 2003, as well as the IIHF Men's Ice Hockey Championships in 2006 and 2021, and the inaugural Eurovision Choir of the Year competition in 2017.
LTV1 broadcasts the Eurovision Song Contest in Latvia each year, and LTV7 also broadcasts many sport events such as the Olympics, various Latvian league and national team games, the Ice Hockey World Championships (since 2018, extended 2028) and the FIFA World Cup.