On 2 January 2025, a new company – Latvian Public Media (Latvijas Sabiedriskais medijs, LSM) – was established by merging two Latvian national public media – Latvian Radio and Latvian Television.
The establishment of LSM through the merger of Latvian Radio, Latvian Television, and the internet news portal LSM.lv is a landmark achievement for the Latvian media sector. This historic event resolved the decade-long plan to combine national media into one joint broadcasting media platform. Several factors motivated the need for a joint public media, such as changes in viewing habits due to technological developments, the need for trustworthy public information sources, and synergies from combining resources of two leading media outlets.
Latvian viewers, especially the younger generation, are switching to digital information consumption, preferring the Internet over traditional sources. At the same time, society has more trust in content provided by public media channels. The merger of professional teams and technological sources of Latvian Radio, Latvian Television and the internet portal LSM.lv allows the creation of a stronger modern public media aiming to provide high professional quality content for the benefit of the Latvian public.
Historic information and background
In 2021, the Latvian Electronic Public Media Council (Sabiedrisko elektronisko plašsaziņas līdzekļu padome, SEPLP) was established to facilitate the creation of a single public media. The Council overtook the functions of the shareholder and the top decision-making body for Latvian Radio and Latvian Television.
In 2022, the Public Media Council published a Report on the establishment and operation of a single public media. TGS Baltic consulted the Public Media Council on legal issues relating to the merger of Latvian Radio and Latvian Television, such as on the reorganisation process, governance of the single public media and labour law.
In 2024, the Latvian Parliament amended the Electronic Public Media and Governance Law and mandated the Public Media Council to merge Latvian Radio and Latvian Television by the end of 2024 and to establish a new merged entity — the single Latvian Public Media — from 1 January 2025.
Latvian Public Media started the year 2025 with 865 employees and a total approved budget of EUR 51 million. During the coming year a redistribution of reserved state budget funds in the amount close to EUR 19 million is planned, thus the total budget of Latvian Public Media is estimated to amount to ca. EUR 70 million.
Our team and role
TEGOS (formerly TGS Baltic) assisted the Public Media Council in the merger process by drafting the reorganisation documents and ensuring that the Latvian Register of Enterprises registers the merger. Legal advice comprised an assessment of numerous questions relating to the reorganisation of two state-owned enterprises and governance of the newly established media company, with a view to ensuring business continuity and a seamless transition. TEGOS also provided consultations related to labour law issues and procurement procedures.
TEGOS’s team was led by partner Andra Rubene and comprised of senior associate Vladlena Rudusāne and associate Toms Tīdemanis.
For more information, please visit the site or read in Latvian language here, here and here.
