Lithuanian National Radio and Television
| Company type | Public broadcaster |
|---|---|
| Industry | Broadcasting, media |
| Founded | June 12, 1926 |
| Headquarters | Vilnius , Lithuania |
Area served | Lithuania, worldwide (online) |
Key people | Eugenijus Valatka (Chair of the Council), Irena Vaišvilaitė (Vice-Chair) |
| Products | Television channels, radio stations, online digital platform |
| Owner | State-owned |
Number of employees | 600 (2019) |
| Website | www |
Lithuanian National Radio and Television () stands as Lithuania's premier public broadcaster, having provided radio services since 1926 and television broadcasts since 1957. A participant in the European Broadcasting Union since 1993, LRT manages three nationwide TV channels, several radio stations, and an online digital platform.
As the country's largest media organization, LRT is state-owned and committed to delivering reliable, impartial information to its audience. Its headquarters are located in Vilnius, with LRT radijas commanding the largest portion of Lithuania’s radio audience, focusing heavily on up-to-date news and educational programming.
History
Regular radio transmissions from LRT commenced on 12 June 1926, followed by the start of television services on 30 April 1957. The radio lineup grew to include English-language broadcasts in 1965, while color television was introduced in 1975. By the close of 2019, the broadcaster employed nearly 600 personnel. In 2007, LRT launched an extensive digitization initiative to safeguard its vast archive, which contains more than 5,000 hours of cinefilm and around 30,000 hours of videotape dating back to 1895.
The organization oversees seven national channels that integrate content across TV, radio, and digital platforms. Approximately two-thirds of programming is produced internally, with the remainder acquired from external sources. For international news coverage, LRT partners with global broadcasters such as Deutsche Welle, Voice of America, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. After Lithuania regained independence in 1991, LRT was part of the International Radio and Television Organisation before becoming a full member of the European Broadcasting Union in 1993.
Governance
The highest decision-making authority at LRT is the LRT Council, which supervises the fulfillment of its mission and approves annual budgets. This body comprises twelve individuals drawn from social, scientific, and cultural backgrounds, each appointed for six-year terms.
Financial oversight is handled by the LRT Administrative Commission, consisting of five experts in management and finance who are appointed by the Council for four-year tenures.
Currently, Eugenijus Valatka serves as Chair of the Council, with Irena Vaišvilaitė holding the position of Vice-Chair.
Budget
LRT’s funding is derived from taxpayers through allocations linked to tax revenues from two years earlier. The government designates 1.5% of personal income tax revenue and 1.3% of excise tax proceeds to support LRT. In 2019, its budget amounted to 41.65 million euros, with plans to raise this figure to 46.30 million euros in 2020.
From 1992 until 2015, advertising revenue also contributed to LRT’s financial resources.
Facilities and equipment
LRT operates several television studios ranging between 70 and 700 square meters in size and employs Outside Broadcast (OB) units for live transmissions. Its facilities are equipped with advanced computer graphics technology.
Platforms and channels
LRT offers worldwide access to its television and live radio content via LRT.lt, except where copyright limitations apply.
Radio
- LRT Radijas – primary generalist radio channel
- LRT Klasika – focuses on culture, classical music, and minority ethnic programming
- – contemporary music station aimed at younger listeners
Television
- LRT Televizija (HD) – offers a wide range of general programming aimed at diverse viewers
- LRT Plius (HD) – dedicated to cultural and sports-related content
- LRT Lituanica – broadcasts solely Lithuanian programming sourced from other LRT channels, available via satellite, online streaming, and YouTube
Online
- LRT.lt – provides news coverage in Lithuanian, English, Polish, Ukrainian, and Russian; all published or broadcast materials are stored in Mediateka for complimentary access unless copyright limitations apply.