NTV-5 was publicly announced in December 1991, a few months after Latvia's de facto independence, when a contest for television presenters was announced in the press.[4] Technical and preparational work had been carried out before, but during the contest, a wave of promising talents was discovered. This meant that, alongside the extant presenters on the state network Latvian Television, new, promising voices with a new visual language appeared, alongside a new news style, never before seen on national television. The author of the idea was Marina Gulimane, who became its director-general. Its line-up included several programs, including programs on national cultural societies, language learning (Scandinavian languages, Lithuanian and Estonian language courses), cycles on international literature and documentaries on Latvian history. NTV-5's news department was presided by journalist Kārlis Streips.[1]
On 10 October 1996, VNĪA concluded an agreement with SIA "Televīzijas kompānija NTV-5" regarding changes to the contract for management of households at Elijas Street 17, Riga, concluded on 24 August 1995, creating more favorable conditions for SIA "NTV-5", however the Rural Project (Lauku projekts), which included the 17 Elijas Street building, had already been transferred to the Privatization Agency with the act of accepting the transfer concluded on 1 October 1996.[5]
