LTV1 — Mediated Wiki

{{Infobox television channel | name = LTV1 | logo = LTV1 (2022).svg | country = Latvia | language = Latvian | picture_format = 1080i (HDTV) | owner = LSM | area = Latvia | headquarters = Riga, Latvia | sister_channels = LTV7 | launch_date = {{start date and age|1954|11|06}} | website = {{Official|https://replay.lsm.lv/lv/tiesraide/ltv1/}} }} '''LTV1''' (Latvian: ''Latvijas Televīzija 1'') is the first television channel of Latvijas Televīzija (LTV), the state-owned public service television broadcaster in Latvia. The channel offers news, analysis, talk shows, interviews, documentaries, feature films, TV series, cultural programs, theatre performances, concerts, sports coverage, quiz shows, music programs, and entertainment shows. From 2021 to 2025, LTV1 was the country's most watched channel.

==History== LTV made its first test broadcasts on 6 November 1954 from a studio in Soviet Riga in black-and-white, which were seen by the 20 owners of personal television sets. This made LTV the first and oldest national television station in the Baltics. Regular broadcasting started on 20 November 1954. Initially, LTV did not have rights to create programming, except live shows. In 1955, the Riga Television studio in Nometņu iela, Āgenskalns was created to produce programming and the first TV tower in Latvia was built.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vēsture un Fakti / LTV.LV |trans-title=History and Facts {{!}} LTV|url=https://ltv.lsm.lv/lv/par-ltv/fakti/|access-date=2021-04-07|website=ltv.lsm.lv}}</ref> As of 1960, LTV aired 1,300 hours a year. The channel aired news bulletins every day except on Sundays, while its broadcasts were praised for their sophistication.<ref name="RTVUSSR">''Radio and Television in the USSR'', S. V. Kaftanov, 1960</ref>

For its 50th anniversary on 5-6 November 2004, LTV1 aired special programming.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.delfi.lv/kultura/52862727/screen/9395319/ltv-verienigi-svines-50-gadu-jubileju|title=LTV vērienīgi svinēs 50 gadu jubileju|website=www.delfi.lv|accessdate=May 29, 2025}}</ref> Shortly after these celebrations, LTV announced the creation of a new look, which was to be designed externally, to attract the age 15–45 demographic..<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.delfi.lv/193/politics/9663786/ltv1-bus-jauns-grafiskais-dizains|title=LTV1 būs jauns grafiskais dizains|website=www.delfi.lv|accessdate=May 29, 2025}}</ref>

The channel planned to remove cultural programming in October 2006, justifying the move by the creation of a third channel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.delfi.lv/193/politics/22112278/no-ltv1-programmas-apsver-iespeju-izslegt-kulturas-raidijumus|title=No LTV1 programmas apsver iespēju izslēgt kultūras raidījumus|website=www.delfi.lv|accessdate=May 29, 2025}}</ref>

On 15 January 2013, the channel started broadcasting in 16:9 widescreen.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.delfi.lv/193/politics/42970916/ltv1-sak-raidit-pasaules-standartiem-atbilstosa-attela-formata|title=LTV1 sāk raidīt pasaules standartiem atbilstošā attēla formātā|website=www.delfi.lv|accessdate=May 29, 2025}}</ref> LTV1 changed its logo in September 2013, thickening the extant logo, as an act to improve relations with LTV7.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.delfi.lv/kultura/52862727/screen/43601773/kartejo-reizi-modernizets-ltv1-logotips|title=Kārtējo reizi modernizēts LTV1 logotips|website=www.delfi.lv|accessdate=May 29, 2025}}</ref>

LTV1 was the most-watched television channel in Latvia in 2021 with 11,4% of total viewing time, according to a Kantar survey.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.delfi.lv/193/politics/53946833/pern-skatitakais-televizijas-kanals-bija-ltv1|title=Pērn skatītākais televīzijas kanāls bija LTV1|website=www.delfi.lv|accessdate=May 29, 2025}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{Commons category inline}} *{{Official website|https://replay.lsm.lv/lv/tiesraide/ltv1/}} {{in lang|lv}}

Category:Television channels and stations established in 1954 Category:Television channels in Latvia