Lithuania

[LT] New legislation on national broadcasting body

IRIS 1997-4:1/20

Andrea Schneider

Institute of European Media Law (EMR), Saarbrücken/Brussels

On 8 October 1996 the Lithuanian Parliament adopted legislation on the national broadcasting body, which was amended again on 12 December 1996.

The legislation regulates the procedure for the setting up, administration, operation, reorganisation and liquidation of Lithuanian National Radio and Television, and its rights, duties and responsibilities.

The legislation as now adopted is the seventh version of the National Broadcasting Act, which has taken two years to prepare.

The Act is in three sections; Section 1 contains general provisions, Section 2 conditions for the administration of the national broadcaster, and Section 3 deals with its capital.

The Lithuanian national broadcaster has the status of a public, non-profit-making body with its own legal identity. The Act as amended regulates the principles and demands concerning programming.

Under the Act, the channels operated by the national broadcaster must guarantee a variety of types of programme, covering a wide range of topics; programmes must appeal to varying sections of the population. National culture must be given priority; mass-media programmes may not be given more air-time than programmes aimed at specific groups and representing national culture.

Lithuanian National Radio and Television succeeds Lithuanian Radio and Television (LRT); it is to be managed by the broadcasting council and the governing board, under a general director.