Latvia: Parliament approves merger of public broadcasters in 2025

The Latvian parliament, the Saeima, has approved in final reading amendments to merge the country’s public broadcasters, Latvijas Televizija (LTV) and Latvijas Radio, in 2025, LETA reported. Under the plan, the two companies will merge into a new public broadcasting corporation, Latvijas Sabiedriskais Medijs (LSM). Latvijas Radio’s trade union objected to the plan, arguing that it would only create new problems, LSM reported. The union feared that the merger would mean that LTV would simply absorb Latvijas Radio. Also, the union voiced concern over available funding for the new entity.