Foundation Anniversary: Lithuanian National Radio and Television — June 12, 1926

Lithuanian National Radio and Television (Lietuvos nacionalinis radijas ir televizija, LRT) began its history on 12 June 1926 in Kaunas, when the State Radiophone (Valstybės radiofonas, also known as the Kaunas Radiophone) broadcast its opening call sign from a building on Vaižganto Street via the Kaunas radio station. Operating in Kaunas from 12 June 1926 to 1940, the public broadcaster later expanded into television when Lithuanian Television began regular transmissions on 30 April 1957.

A note on this date. Institutional records of Lithuanian National Radio and Television distinguish two founding dates: 12 June 1926, when the Kaunas Radiophone launched regular public radio broadcasting from Vaižganto Street in Kaunas, and 30 April 1957, when regular Lithuanian television broadcasts commenced (the date carried in several international broadcasting directories). This anniversary follows 12 June 1926, from which LRT counts its institutional history, and states both dates. We publish it with the warning rather than leave the page out, and if you can point us to a register or an archive that carries it we will confirm or correct it.

Dates verified on Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) Official Website and Universal Lithuanian Encyclopedia (Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija).