Search results : 93

On 4 October 2013, the Nacionālā elektronisko plašsaziņas līdzekļu padome (NEPLP - National Electronic Mass Media Council), the Latvian media regulator, published its proposals for amendments to the Latvian Electronic Media Act (EMA). The NEPLP prepared the amendments within an internal working group established to implement the “National Strategy for the development of the electronic media within the years 2012-2017”. As an executive body, NEPLP does not have legislative initiative rights. Hence, NEPLP submitted its proposal to the responsible Commission of Human Rights and Social Affairs of Saeima...

Once again the European Court of Human Rights has found a breach of Article 10 of the Convention in a case of protection of journalistic sources. The Court is of the opinion that the Latvian investigating authorities failed to adequately protect the sources of a journalist of the national television broadcaster Latvijas televīzija (LTV), Ms Nagla. The journalist’s home was searched and data storage devices were seized following a broadcast she had aired informing the public of an information leak from the State Revenue Service (Valsts ieņēmumu dienests - VID) database. Almost three months...

On 14 February 2013, the Saeima (Latvian Parliament) adopted amendments to the Electronic Media Law. The amendments were announced in the law gazette on 6 March 2013 and aim at implementing a new regulatory framework for digital terrestrial broadcasting services (see IRIS 2013-1/29). The current structure, according to the Electronic Media Law is in force only until 31 December 2013. So far, digital terrestrial broadcasting is provided by only one operator chosen in the course of a tender organized by the Cabinet of Ministers (see IRIS 2010-2/27). The chosen operator is the company SIA Lattelecom,...

On 18 October 2012 the Saeima (the Latvian Parliament) adopted important amendments to the Latvian Electronic Media Law in the first reading. These amendments focus on the regulation of digital terrestrial broadcasting services as from 2014. The draft also includes potentially controversial new powers of the media regulatory authority. Currently, digital terrestrial broadcasting is provided by one operator chosen in the course of a tender organized by the Cabinet of Ministers (see IRIS 2010-2/27). The exclusive rights of this operator expire on 31 December 2013. According to the transition rules...

On 4 October 2012 the Saeima (Latvian Parliament) adopted amendments to the Electronic Media Law, partially abolishing the “must-carry” rules applicable to cable television operators. Before these amendments, the Electronic Media Law provided that cable television operators must include in their packages programmes of the public television broadcasters as well as programmes of the national commercial television broadcasters whose terrestrial programmes are available to viewers free of charge. Consequently, the cable television operator could not request a payment from the television broadcasters...