Russia, Central Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, North America, Southeast Asia, Middle East, Western Europe, Nordic Regions, Sub-Saharan Africa and until 2015 the Baltic countries.
RTR-Planeta (Russian: PTP-Планета) is the international TV Channel of VGTRK, a state-owned broadcaster in Russia. It is available throughout the world via cable and satellite.
History
On June 30, 2002, VGTRK executive Oleg Dobrodeev announced the creation of RTR-Planeta, aiming at Western Europe and the Middle East with plans to launch in North America by autumn. According to Dobrodeev, RTR-Planeta wasn't "a commercial project", meaning that there would be no commercial advertising "for the time being".[1] The channel launched on July 1, 2002 using the Express-3A satellite. Programming included morning relays of Euronews, RTR's programming, including Vesti's editions, its TV series and movies, as well as some programming from Kultura. The channel was financed by the VGTRK's internal reserves and did not receive funding from the State. Until then, the Russian version of the channel aired with foreign advertising.[2]
Broadcasting
RTR Planeta is the only provider of Russian-language programming to the Asia-Pacific region covered by the AsiaSat 2 Satellite. To step up the accessibility of its content to viewers RTR Planeta has eagerly embraced new technologies launching in various IPTV, ADSL and other advanced networks.
In October 2009 a separate version of the TV channel to broadcast via the Eutelsat 36A satellite to Ukrainian TV viewers was especially created. This was done because on November 1, 2008 the Ukrainian Television and Radio Broadcasting Council demanded that (Ukrainian) cable operators remove Russian TV channels that did not adopt the Ukrainian legislation from their broadcasting lists. The decision affected, in particular, RTR-Planeta, Channel One and TV Center.[3]
On May 1, 2010, RTR Planeta returned to the Ukrainian cable networks.
Bans
Lithuania: In April 2015 RTR Planeta's broadcasts were blocked for three months by Lithuania because of transmitting ‘propagation of violence and instigation of war’. Lithuania's Radio and Television Commission gave the explanation that RTR Planeta was portraying Ukrainian people as enemies of Russia and showing contempt for Ukraine’s territorial integrity.[4]
Latvia: On January 31, 2019 RTR Planeta's broadcasts were blocked for three months in Latvia because of transmitting "propaganda and hate speeches, that were considered encouraging violence". Some of the hate speeches encouraged viewers to hang Ukrainians over their political views. This was the second time the channel received a ban in Latvia, the previous time being in 2016, when the channel was accused of spreading false information.[5]
European Union: At the end of April 2022 the EU Commission announced, that there will be sanctions against Russian TV channels, broadcasting to Europe via Satellite and Rebroadcasting as a consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. According to politico.eu, Rossiya RTR/RTR Planeta, Rossiya 24 and TV Centre International will be sanctioned in an effort to curtail Russian propaganda.[6] On 3 June 2022, the ban was enacted as part of the sixth package of sanctions from the EU.[7]
