LNK (Lithuanian TV channel)

LNK is a commercial television channel operating in Lithuania. It is a free-to-air TV channel targeted at a Lithuanian audience and primarily broadcasts local entertainment, dubbed movies, lifestyle shows, and news.

LNK

Country	Lithuania
Headquarters	Šeškinės g. 20, 07156 Vilnius
Programming
Language(s)	Lithuanian
Picture format	HDTV 1080i SDTV 576i
Ownership
Owner	Laisvas ir nepriklausomas kanalas, UAB
Sister channels	BTV TV1 Info TV 2TV
History
Launched	5 May 1995; 30 years ago (1995-05-05)
Closed	14 December 2021 (2021-12-14) (Latvia)[1]
Links
Webcast	lnk.lt/tiesiogiai
Website	lnk.lt

LNK headquarters in Vilnius

Over 1 million people watch LNK every day.^[2]

History

LNK was founded in Lapės after the reorganization of "LitPoliinter TV." On 1 April 1995, the Lithuanian Agricultural Bank became its main shareholder, with other shareholders including "Vilniaus Vingis," "Griaustinio Aidas," and the Lithuanian Workers' Union. The channel was officially launched throughout Lithuania on 5 May 1995. Initially, LNK mainly retransmitted Russian programs from ORT (now Channel One Russia), including its news bulletin Vremya.

In 1996, LNK replaced its previous content with original programming^[3][4] That year, an office was established in Vilnius.^[5] In the summer of 1997, several curated shows, such as "Dviračio šou," moved to Baltic Television. In October 1997, British Pacific Media Management^[6] purchased the company's shares from "Vilniaus Vingis," the company "Anoma," and the association of depositors affected by "LitPoliinter." In January 1998, Hubertas Grušnys and Clear Channel Communication International acquired 10% of LNK's shares from Aleksandras Ambrazevičius and 46% from British Pacific Media Management.^[7] In September of the same year, the Bonnier Group purchased 44% of LNK's shares from the Lithuanian Agricultural Bank and 56% from H. Grušnys.^[8] Following this acquisition, several employees from the LNK News Service moved to Baltic Television. In 2000, some of the former employees and shows returned to LNK.

In 2012, LNK switched to digital television. The channel primarily features Lithuanian shows, series, and other programming.

In November 2018, LNK launched a high-definition channel, LNK HD.^[9]

The channel ceased broadcasts to Latvia on 14 December 2021, as one of 38 foreign channels deemed "no longer relevant" by the NEPLP.^[1]

Programming

Lithuanian programs

Entertainment shows:

• Aš matau tavo balsą — local adaptation of I Can See Your Voice^[10]
• KK2 and KK2 Penktadienis
• Lietuvos balsas (The Voice of Lithuania)
• Lietuvos balsas. Vaikai. (The Voice of Lithuania. Kids)
• Lietuvos balsas. Senjorai. (The Voice of Lithuania. Senior)
• Šokio revoliucija
• Kaukės (Masked Singer Lithuania)

Lifestyle shows:

• Nuo... iki.
• Bus visko

Talk shows:

• Bučiuoju. Rūta
• VIDO VIDeO

More shows:

• Šeškinės 20 (Comedy Show)
• Gyvūnų Pasaulis (About Animals)
• Teleloto

News programs:

• LNK žinios
• Labas vakaras, Lietuva
• Vidurdienio Žinios

Lithuanian Series:

• Rimti Reikalai (Action series)
• Monikai Reikia Meilės
• Man Reikia Meilės

Foreign programs

Series

• Yasak Elma (Turkish series)
• Sen Çal Kapımı (Drama, Love, Comedy, Turkish series)
• Yargı (Drama, Detective, Turkish series)
• Ada Masalı [tr] (Drama, Comedy, Turkish series)
• Aşk Laftan Anlamaz (Drama, Comedy, Turkish series)
• Senden Daha Güzel [tr] (Drama, Comedy, Turkish series)
• Dos vidas (Drama, Spanish series)
• Die Rosenheim-Cops (Detective, German series)
• Гадалка (телесериал) [ru] (Mystery, Drama, Fantasy, Russian series)

Reality Shows

• The Lady and the Peasant (TV series) [uk] (Ukrainian TV series)
• The Farmer Wants a Wife (Australian TV series)

Animation

• Oggy and the Cockroaches (French animated series)
• Zig & Sharko (French animated series)
• Maya the Bee (TV series) (German-French TV series)
• Tom and Jerry (American animated series)

See also

• Television in Lithuania