07-12-2011

Latvian TV's Requests Cable Fee

By FNE Staff

    RIGA: Commercial Latvian TV stations LNT and TV3 are asking cable TV operators to pay for there broadcasts of the commercials stations. Currently cable companies are able to broadcast the commercial national channels free of charge.

    According to local news reports, the two stations are requesting LVL 1 million each for the cable companies. The fee would likely be passed on to consumers in the form of slightly higher monthly charges.

    The two commercials channels are contemplating leaving the national network, reportedly due to dissatisfaction with the fee they have to pay to the national overseer, Lattelcom. The annual fee amounts to 650,000 for each station.