Workers of LTV may go on strike in protest of the possible reduction of original content this autumn season, which would affect their wages, as reported by the Public Electronic Mass Media Council (SEPLP).
According to the SEPLP, the council had warned in January that public media may have to significantly slash the volume of original content if the necessary additional funding is not received. LTV had to start the year with a smaller budget for content, because it was necessary to divert a great deal of resources towards energy resource bills.
To improve the situation, SEPLP hopes the Cabinet of Ministers will support the request to provide additional funding to LTV (UR 850 870) and to Latvijas Radio (EUR 143 969),
which is necessary to reduce the negative impact from the sharp increase of energy prices in 2023 and to continue content generation in the first half of the year.
The council has also asked the Ministry of Culture to support and allocate from the budget for emergencies EUR 529 695 to LTV and EUR 154 738 to Latvijas Radio, so that public media are able to continue covering the war in Ukraine this year.
LTV reminds that employees met with SEPLP on Thursday, the 18th of May.
The main topic was the media merge process. The shortage of funding was also touched.
LTV stresses that the company started 2023 working off the technical budget framework, and various problems related to LTV’s operations still haven’t been resolved – no decisions have been made to resolve LTV’s requested budget funding increase to compensate the cost of utilities and coverage of the war in Ukraine.
The company notes that without clarity about the funding volume and whether it could be provided, LTV has already significantly slashed the coverage of the war in Ukraine. The company has also halted multiple shows for the summer and autumn season.
LTV stresses that in order to prepare content and provide guarantees to LTV workers that they will have sufficient workload in summer and autumn, decisions regarding funding have to be made immediately. This means that if a large portion of original content is not produced for the summer and autumn season, there is a risk of highly skilled professionals leaving the media, LTV representatives say.
Neither LTV nor SEPLP mentioned any terms or length of the strike.
Previously it was reported that in order to reduce the negative impact from the sharp increase of energy prices in 2023, LTV and Latvijas Radio are to receive EUR 994 839 of additional funding, according to the plan developed by the Ministry of Culture.
EUR 143 969 will go to Latvijas Radio and EUR 850 870 – to LTV.
Last year, according to provisional data, LTV operated with turnover of EUR 28.428 million, which is 11.7% more then a year prior.
The company’s profits went down by 15.8% – to EUR 274 524.
LTV is a state company that performs the function of a public electronic mass media specified by law. This function is performed as part of a public order, generating content for public needs on television channels LTV1 and LTV7, www.lsm.lv internet portal and social network accounts managed by LTV.
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