More Russian TV channels have the plug pulled in Latvia

Take note – story published 3 years ago

Just one day after Latvia's broadcast regulator announced a year-long suspension for the Rossija RTR television channel on Latvian territory, measures against 16 other Russian-language TV channels were confirmed.

While the  decision against Rossija RTR was taken because of its content, the National Electronic Mass Media Council (NEPLP) said the new measures were taken because of an administrative failure, specifically that it is not clear who is the official representative or representatives of the channel in Latvia who are responsible for the distribution of broadcasts.

The decision will take effect at midnight on 10 February. 

“Considering that we failed to obtain evidence that these channels are represented in Latvia by anyone, they have been removed from the list of channels to be retransmitted in Latvia. In order to protect the Latvian information space, NEPLP will intensify its inspection of all channels in the register... and, if similar cases are identified, will act accordingly,” said Ivars Āboliņš, Chairman of the NEPLP. 

The channels affected are:  "REN TV Baltic", "NTV Mir Baltic", "Karusel International", "NTV Serial" ("НТВ Сериал"), "NTV Stilj" ("НТВ Стиль"), "NTV Pravo "(" НТВ Право ")," Kinomiks "(" Киномикс ")," Nashe novoye kino "(" Наше новое кино ")," RODNOYE KINO "(" РОДНОЕ КИНО ")," INDIYSKOYE KINO " ), "KINOKOMEDIYA" ("КИНОКОМЕДИЯ"), "KINOSERIYA" ("КИНОСЕРИЯ"), "KVN TV" ("КВН ТВ"), "Kukhnya TV" ("Кухня ТВ"), "BOX TV" ("БОС ") and" HD Life ". 

According to the NEPLP, the first part of Section 19 of the Electronic Media Law stipulates that "for the retransmission and distribution of programs in public electronic communications networks it is necessary to obtain the consent of the owner (holder) of the retransmitted program and a retransmission permit from the National Electronic Media Council." 

The owner's representative or electronic media must also submit documents confirming the right to distribute the program in the Republic of Latvia, and as such documents have not been submitted to guarantee that those rebroadcasting shows have the right to do so, the NEPLP pulled the plug.

The previous rights holder SIA “TEM LV” had told the NEPLP via cable operators that since February 1, it is no longer entitled to rebroadcast these channels. The NEPLP said it had approached the "possible new program distribution representative with a request to submit to the Council supporting documents regarding the distribution rights of the above-mentioned programs in the territory of Latvia", but no documents confirming such rights had been received. 

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