All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company
A Russian state-owned broadcasting group operating national and regional television, radio and digital media services.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
The All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, commonly identified by the Russian abbreviation VGTRK and also referred to as RTR or Russia Television and Radio, is a state-owned Russian broadcasting group headquartered in Moscow. It was created in 1990 during the reorganization of broadcasting institutions in the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and became one of the principal organizations in the post-Soviet Russian television and radio system. VGTRK operates a broad portfolio of national television channels, radio stations, regional production centers and digital services. Its best-known television brands include Russia-1, a general-interest channel combining news, current affairs, entertainment and cultural programming; Russia-24, a rolling news and information service; Russia-K, focused on culture and education; and Carousel, a children’s and youth channel operated jointly with Channel One Russia. The group also operates RTR Planeta, an international television service, as well as a range of specialized digital channels covering subjects such as history, science, sport, films and entertainment. Its radio portfolio includes Radio Rossii, a nationwide talk and general-interest service with substantial regional programming; Mayak, a long-established general entertainment and current-affairs station; Vesti FM, a news-oriented service; Radio Kultura, focused on cultural content; and Radio Yunost, which is primarily available online. VGTRK also distributes programming through Smotrim, a multimedia platform aggregating television, radio and online content from the group’s services. The organization’s terrestrial distribution depends heavily on Russia’s national television and radio transmission infrastructure. Its Moscow-produced channels are relayed to the regions through terrestrial transmitters and satellite systems, while regional studios create local news, cultural programming and schedule inserts. The group has maintained a presence across Russia’s federal subjects through regional production studios and territorial branches, allowing national brands to carry locally produced material. The company has reported broadcasting in dozens of languages, reflecting the linguistic and geographic diversity of the Russian Federation. VGTRK’s public role is closely connected to its state ownership. Supporters describe it as a national broadcasting institution responsible for universal access, regional coverage and public information services. Critics, independent media organizations and governments outside Russia have characterized its news output as aligned with Kremlin policy and have accused its channels of disseminating propaganda and disinformation, particularly in connection with the Russo-Ukrainian war. These political and editorial controversies have affected the group’s international relationships and availability on foreign platforms. The company joined the European Broadcasting Union in 1993, but its membership was suspended indefinitely in 2022 after the EBU excluded Russian broadcasters from the Eurovision Song Contest following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Canadian sanctions were imposed on VGTRK in July 2022, and YouTube blocked the group’s main channel and subsequently additional regional channels. Despite these restrictions, VGTRK remains a central institution in Russia’s domestic broadcasting system, combining national television, radio, regional production and digital distribution under a single state-controlled organization.
History
VGTRK emerged from the institutional restructuring of Soviet and Russian broadcasting in 1990. On 21 June 1990, the first Congress of People’s Deputies adopted a resolution calling for the creation of a Russian television and radio broadcasting committee. A decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet on 14 July established the Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company. Oleg Poptsov became its first chairman. The new organization began radio operations on 10 December 1990, when Radio Rossii started broadcasting on frequencies associated with major Soviet radio services. Television broadcasting followed on 13 May 1991, after an earlier planned launch was postponed. The company initially used airtime associated with the second program of Soviet Central Television, and after that service ended in September 1991, VGTRK assumed the remaining schedule. This transition gave the new Russian broadcaster a nationwide television platform during the final phase of the Soviet Union and the formation of the Russian Federation. During the early 1990s, VGTRK’s television structure continued to change. Russian Universities programming was introduced in 1992 and later shared transmission arrangements with NTV. The service ceased broadcasting in November 1996. In 1996, following a presidential decree, Poptsov left the chairmanship and Eduard Sagalaev was appointed. The organization also experimented with satellite services, launching Meteor-Sport and Meteor-Kino in July 1996. In November 1997, it introduced Kultura, a channel devoted to cultural and educational programming. Further institutional changes followed in the late 1990s. A presidential initiative concerning public electronic media was drafted in 1998, alongside the creation of Voice of Russia and the reorganization of Mayak. VGTRK expanded beyond traditional domestic transmission in the following decade. In 2001, it acquired a minority stake in Euronews, which subsequently introduced a Russian-language service. Its portfolio gradually developed into a collection of general-interest, news, cultural, children’s, sports and specialized services. The group’s digital expansion accelerated in the 2010s. It tested Kino-TV in December 2012 and began testing Rossiya HD later that month, with regular high-definition broadcasting starting on 29 December. In 2013, VGTRK announced a package of specialized digital channels covering documentaries, history, science, sport, films and entertainment. Russian Detective and IQ HD were launched in 2014. Russia-2 was later transferred to Gazprom-Media in 2015 and replaced by Match TV. VGTRK’s operating model combines centralized national channels with extensive regional production. Its regional studios and territorial branches create local news and cultural programming, which can be inserted into Russia-1, Russia-24 and Radio Rossii schedules. The group has reported broadcasting in more than fifty languages, including programming from local studios, and has maintained coverage across Russia’s federal subjects. Its national channels are distributed through terrestrial transmitters operated by the Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Network, as well as satellite and digital systems. The organization has also become increasingly controversial because of its role in Russia’s state media environment. Critics have accused VGTRK services of spreading propaganda and disinformation and of encouraging hostility during the Russo-Ukrainian war. International restrictions intensified after the 2022 invasion. The EBU suspended VGTRK’s membership indefinitely, Canada imposed sanctions, and YouTube blocked its principal and regional channels. Nevertheless, VGTRK remains active and continues to operate as one of Russia’s principal state-controlled television, radio and digital media groups.
- 2022
International restrictions intensify
[1]Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, VGTRK faced EBU suspension, Canadian sanctions and platform restrictions.
- 2012
Begins high-definition and digital channel development
[1]VGTRK began test broadcasts of Kino-TV and Rossiya HD, with Rossiya HD entering regular service in December.
- 2001
Acquires minority stake in Euronews
[1]VGTRK acquired a 1.8 percent stake in Euronews, which later introduced a Russian-language service.
- 1997
Kultura channel launched
[1]VGTRK launched the Kultura television channel, concentrating on cultural and educational content.
- 1993
Joins the European Broadcasting Union
[1]VGTRK joined the European Broadcasting Union.
- 1991
VGTRK begins television broadcasting
[1]VGTRK began television broadcasting to Russia on 13 May using the second program’s former transmission capacity.
- 1990
Russian state broadcaster established
[1]A decree established the Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company during the reorganization of broadcasting institutions in the RSFSR.
- 1990
Radio Rossii begins broadcasting
[1]Radio Rossii began broadcasting on 10 December, establishing the group’s principal national radio service.
Products and positioning
A state-owned, nationwide Russian broadcasting group combining general-interest television, news, culture, radio, regional services and digital media.
General-interest television channel · 1991
Russia-1
VGTRK’s principal nationwide general-interest television channel. Russia-1 combines national and regional news, current affairs, cultural programming, entertainment, films and other mainstream television formats. Regional studios contribute local news and schedule inserts, making the channel both a national platform and a vehicle for geographically distributed programming.
News television channel
Russia-24
A rolling news and current-affairs channel carrying domestic and international news, interviews, reports, analysis and live coverage. Regional VGTRK studios contribute local news and current-affairs segments, extending the channel’s coverage beyond Moscow.
Cultural television channel · 1997
Russia-K
A national cultural and educational television service formerly associated with the Kultura brand. Its programming emphasizes arts, literature, history, music, educational subjects and cultural events rather than general entertainment.
Children’s and youth television channel · 2010
Carousel
A children’s and youth television channel operated jointly with Channel One Russia. It replaced Bibigon in 2010 and provides programming intended for children and younger audiences.
International television channel
RTR Planeta
VGTRK’s international television network, carrying selected Russian news, entertainment, cultural and general-interest programming for audiences outside Russia. Its distribution and regulatory status vary by country.
Nationwide radio station · 1990
Radio Rossii
A nationwide general-interest radio service combining talk, news, cultural content and regional programming. It is one of VGTRK’s core radio brands and provides a framework for locally produced broadcasts from regional studios.
Radio station
Mayak
A long-established Russian radio service featuring general entertainment, current affairs, conversation formats and adult contemporary music. It became part of the reorganized Russian broadcasting system associated with VGTRK.
News radio station
Vesti FM
A news-oriented radio service delivering news bulletins, interviews, discussion and current-affairs programming.
Multimedia online platform
Smotrim
VGTRK’s online multimedia platform, bringing together video, radio and other digital content from the group’s television and radio assets.
Controversies
2022
Criticism over wartime propaganda and disinformation
VGTRK and its channels have been accused by critics and media organizations of disseminating propaganda and disinformation and of inciting hostility during the Russo-Ukrainian war. The allegations contributed to international scrutiny and restrictions on the group’s distribution and institutional relationships.
Brand decisions
2015
Transfer Russia-2 to Gazprom-MediaOtherBackground
VGTRK’s sports and entertainment channel Russia-2 was reorganized within the Russian television market.
Action taken
Russia-2 was acquired by Gazprom-Media and subsequently replaced by Match TV.
Aftermath
Sports television programming was repositioned under the Match TV brand.
2013
Consolidate specialized digital channelsStrategyBackground
VGTRK expanded its digital television portfolio with specialized services.
Action taken
The company announced an eleven-channel Digital Television package spanning documentaries, history, science, sport, films and entertainment.
Aftermath
The package broadened VGTRK’s presence beyond its principal general-interest and news channels.
2010
Replace Bibigon with CarouselStrategyBackground
VGTRK and Channel One Russia reorganized their children’s television offering.
Action taken
Carousel replaced the former Bibigon channel as the principal joint children’s and youth service.
Aftermath
The change consolidated children’s programming under a new channel brand.
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