Lithuania

[LT] Regulator finds EUR 650 889 overpayment for public broadcaster's transmission services

IRIS 2026-9:1/16

Sergei Bondarev

Independent expert

On 17 September 2026, the Council of Lithuania's Communications Regulatory Authority (Ryšių reguliavimo tarnyba – RRT) found that the Lithuanian Radio and Television Centre (Telecentras) had received EUR 650 889 more than the cost-based amount due for services supplied in 2025 to the public broadcaster, Lithuanian National Radio and Television (Lietuvos nacionalinis radijas ir televizija – LRT). Resolution No. TN-380 states that the overpayment, excluding VAT, is returnable to LRT. RRT announced the finding on 21 September.

The services cover transmission of LRT television and radio programme signals to the public over electronic communications networks and services required for the provision and operation of LRT's radio and television networks. Telecentras submitted an independent audit of its 2025 service revenue and costs to RRT in August 2026. RRT then checked whether the prices were justified by the costs allocated to those services. It found revenue of EUR 3 521 904, excluding VAT, against EUR 2 871 015 in allowable costs, also excluding VAT and including a reasonable return on investment. Revenue thus exceeded those costs by 22.67%, producing the stated overpayment.

The governing compensation arrangements were approved by Government Resolution No. 403 of 11 June 2025. They require service prices to reflect Telecentras's costs of serving LRT, including a reasonable return on investment, under the applicable cost accounting and accounting separation rules. RRT's decision also records that Telecentras's 2025 revenue remained below the EUR 15 million annual ceiling for compensation from the state budget allocations received by LRT. The revenue ceiling did not by itself establish that Telecentras’s charges were cost-based: RRT separately compared the amount received with the costs attributable to the services. The independent auditor assessed the accounting methodology; RRT made the substantive cost justification finding following its own check.

Under Paragraph 19 of the compensation arrangements, where RRT finds that the amount paid for 2025 services exceeds the allowable costs, Telecentras must return the difference to LRT within three months of that finding unless the contract provides otherwise. The operative part of TN-380 identifies EUR 650 889 as returnable. The resolution can be appealed to the Regional Administrative Court within one month of receipt.