As Ukraine & Russia Fight War for the Airwaves, One Russian-Language Channel Thrives

NEW YORK, Sept. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- As the conflict in Ukraine intensifies, Ukrainian authorities recently banned fifteen Russian television channels from broadcasting within the country, eliminating primarily those controlled by the Kremlin. Among those remaining legal to broadcast was independent Russian-language channel RTVi, the primary source of news for many Russian-speaking people around the world.

RTVi, which is the channel most Russian speakers worldwide cite as their primary source for news and information, has assets in both Russia and Ukraine—one of the few channels to do so and the only one not controlled by the Russian government. Its reporters, many of whom are veterans of conflicts within the Russian Federation, have brought dramatic coverage from hotspots within Ukraine where much of the fighting has taken place.

In the climate of confusion and disinformation surrounding the unrest in the eastern part of Ukraine and the Russian border beyond it, Russian speakers worldwide have come to rely on RTVi's coverage, which broadcasts in five continents. As such, its reporting has come to shape the opinions of the Russian-speaking world, including in the United States, in a way that balances biased coverage from other news channels. In the US, RTVi is focused on providing forward-thinking, independent content.

Over the last decade, Russia has centralized many of its broadcast stations, markedly reducing the number of outlets that offer an alternative narrative that differs from the official Kremlin position.  RTVi has remained free from such attempts and retains assets in Russia as well as in many other countries around the world. As the attempt to spread false information continues, RTVi has emerged as a lone independent voice that can be relied upon for unbiased information.

Founded in 1998, RTVi provides unbiased, informative content for Russian-speaking audiences worldwide. RTVi's financial independence stems from both subscription fees and advertising, which allows it to exist without support from governments or other potential influences. Its community-focused reporting and independence from government oversight, as well as its staff of expert reporters, are the hallmarks of its journalistic tradition.

SOURCE RTVi