Regulator Changes Tactic On Errant Broadcasters

Michael Hedges November 27, 2019 - Follow on Twitter

Those on the frontline of geo-political tensions are bombarded with messages meant to reinforce or dissuade perceptions. Much attention has been given to the bad parts, disinformation and propaganda. And much of that is aimed at online and social media. Where information is most sensitive, however, broadcasting is the target, largely television.

Last week Latvia’s media regulator National Electronic Mass Media Council (NEPLP) suspended nine Russian language TV channels from reception in the country. They are largely entertainment channels available on cable networks and satellite systems and not particularly well-known. Latvian authorities have busted Russian television broadcasters before for illegal or inappropriate content.

Content was not the issue - this time. The channel’s shareholder is EU sanctioned Russian Yuri Kovalchuk, placed on the list after the Russian Federation annexed Crimea. The NEPLP suspension will be lifted when the European Union lifts sanctions on Mr. Kovalchuk or when he is no longer owner of the channels, said NEPLP deputy director Ivars Abolins, according to Latvian public TV LRT (November 20).

Mr. Kovalchuk is chairman and largest shareholder of Bank Rossiya. He is also principal shareholder in National Media Group (NMG) and CTC Media. NMG owns Channel One Russia, REN TV, Channel 5 Petersburg and many others, most of which are distributed widely. Channel One is home port for notorious TV talkshow haranguer Dmitry Kiselyov, top rated in Russia.

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - the Baltics - are former Soviet republics. Largely speaking, their citizens were relieved to see the backsides of the central committees. Enthusiastically, they joined the European Union and fixed sights firmly on the European Union. Fifteen years later attitudes are more nuanced.

Still, significant minorities living in the Baltics are native Russian speakers. About a quarter of Estonians and Latvians use the Russian language regularly, roughly 15% of Lithuanians. These percentages have dropped rather significantly in recent years, largely from population ageing and migration. Russian language broadcasts target these people, certainly with well-produced entertainment and sports programs but also with grievances about their governments and assumed prejudice as well as far-right hate speech. Sowing discontent is the principle intent.

To blunt, slightly, the attraction of Russian-produced broadcasts, public broadcasters in the Baltics began offering Russian-language programs. Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) launched ETV+ in 2015. Development of the channel is financially supported by the Nordic Council of Ministers. Latvian public channel LTV7 offers some Russian-language programs, news programs provided by the BBC. LRT, Lithuania’s public broadcaster, offers limited Russian-language programming but recently launched Polish-language programs in association with Polish state broadcaster TVP. A joint project by Baltic public broadcasters never got off the ground.

Lithuania media regulator LRTK has intermittently suspended Russian TV channels for spreading propaganda. RTR Planeta, international service of Russian State broadcaster VGTRK, was suspended from retransmission in 2015 for three months, again in 2017 and in 2018 for a year. The suspension decisions cited “incitement to hatred.” Cable operator Init was fined for continuing to carry RTR Planeta and other Russian channels.

Estonia has not banned or sanctioned Russian TV or radio channels. Broadcast regulation is purely technical. “We have a slightly different function,” said TTJA advisor Peeter Sookruus when asked about the Latvian sanctions, quoted by public broadcaster ERR (November 24). “We may require that some channels stop sending over time, but we do not conduct regular observation. That is, when a new company emerges that wants to include the channels of one state in its packages, it does not have to obtain permission from the agency, unlike Latvia and Lithuania. As countries have a slightly different set of rules in the audiovisual field, so do their legal frameworks and, consequently, their ability to react. However, no development is ruled out.”

The question has been referred to Estonia’s Foreign Ministry. "We will consult with our Latvian colleagues and the European Commission on the exact reasons and justification for the imposition of sanctions and analyze their decision," said spokesperson Inga Bowden.

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