Thanks to a joint project of Telecentras and Emitel, Lithuanian and Polish TV broadcasting companies, also Government institutions, the possibilities to watch Lithuanian national TV program LRT LITUANICA via terrestrial television were greatly improved in Suwalki region, were most of Poland-based Lithuanians reside.
The installation of TV signal amplification equipment in the Emitel’s TV tower in Krzemianucha, near the city of Suwalki, extended the coverage area of LRT LITUANICA and made it possible to watch the program not only for residents of border areas, who receive a signal from the Telecentras TV tower in Lazdijai, but also throughout Suwalki region.
The project was co-financed by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the Lithuanian national broadcaster LRT.
„LRT LITUANICA broacasting project in Suwalki region shows how much Government of Lithuania and Polish institutions can achieve by working together“, today at the launching ceremony said Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis.
“I am delighted that with the joint efforts of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, national broadcasters and re-broadcasters, the broadcasting of LRT LITUANICA is being launched in this region of Poland. I would like to emphasize that this program will be visible to all households with a regular TV antenna and will be free of costs. I believe, for every ethnic minority it is important to maintain bonds with their nation. I am positive that LRT LITUANICA will aid strengthening that connection and provide access to the up-to-date news in Lithuania,” – says Jaroslav Narkevič, Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Lithuania.
“National broadcaster LRT has a special role in helping Lithuanians living abroad to stay in touch with the country by providing relevant content and ensuring it’s accessibility. This spring we have launched a new online platform LRT LITUANICA dedicated specifically for Lithuanian diaspora. LRT LITUANICA TV channel is also broadcasted on the internet. By making available content online, we also acknowledge importance to broadcast it via the terrestrial television especially in regions like Suwalki where lives numerous Lithuanian community”, commented Director General of LRT Monika Garbačiauskaitė-Budrienė.
“We are glad that we could help Lithuanian community leaving in Poland to improve reception of LRT LITUANICA via terrestrial television. It was not an easy job, mainly due to legal requirements and permissions that are required by cross-border cooperation in that matter. Emitel designed the technical solution, acquired necessary permissions and finally launched tv signal broadcasting,” – said Andrzej J. Kozłowski, President of the Management Board of Emitel S.A
“I am glad that we managed to agree on a technical solution in principle and implement it smoothly within the set deadlines”, says Remigijus Šeris, General Director of Telecentras. “Preliminary measurements, which we performed at 9 points, show that the TV signal in many areas inhabited by Lithuanians can be received qualitatively with an outdoor antenna, and in some places – even with a room antenna.”
About Telecentras
Telecentras is a Lithuanian state-owned joint-stock company providing radio and television program transmission, data transmission, Internet, smart television, data center and telephony services throughout Lithuania.