All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company

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.

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.

1. 2022International restrictions intensify

   Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, VGTRK faced EBU suspension, Canadian sanctions and platform restrictions.

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2. 2012Begins high-definition and digital channel development

   VGTRK began test broadcasts of Kino-TV and Rossiya HD, with Rossiya HD entering regular service in December.

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3. 2001Acquires minority stake in Euronews

   VGTRK acquired a 1.8 percent stake in Euronews, which later introduced a Russian-language service.

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4. 1997Kultura channel launched

   VGTRK launched the Kultura television channel, concentrating on cultural and educational content.

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5. 1993Joins the European Broadcasting Union

   VGTRK joined the European Broadcasting Union.

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6. 1991VGTRK begins television broadcasting

   VGTRK began television broadcasting to Russia on 13 May using the second program’s former transmission capacity.

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7. 1990Russian state broadcaster established

   A decree established the Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company during the reorganization of broadcasting institutions in the RSFSR.

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8. 1990Radio Rossii begins broadcasting

   Radio Rossii began broadcasting on 10 December, establishing the group’s principal national radio service.

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A state-owned, nationwide Russian broadcasting group combining general-interest television, news, culture, radio, regional services and digital media.

• Russia-1General-interest television channel1991

  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.

• Russia-24News television channel

  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.

• Russia-KCultural television channel1997

  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.

• CarouselChildren’s and youth television channel2010

  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.

• RTR PlanetaInternational television channel

  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.

• Radio RossiiNationwide radio station1990

  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.

• MayakRadio station

  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.

• Vesti FMNews radio station

  A news-oriented radio service delivering news bulletins, interviews, discussion and current-affairs programming.

• SmotrimMultimedia online platform

  VGTRK’s online multimedia platform, bringing together video, radio and other digital content from the group’s television and radio assets.

• 2015Transfer Russia-2 to Gazprom-MediaOther

  VGTRK’s sports and entertainment channel Russia-2 was reorganized within the Russian television market.

  What changed. Russia-2 was acquired by Gazprom-Media and subsequently replaced by Match TV.

  Aftermath. Sports television programming was repositioned under the Match TV brand.

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• 2013Consolidate specialized digital channelsStrategy

  VGTRK expanded its digital television portfolio with specialized services.

  What changed. 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.

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• 2010Replace Bibigon with CarouselStrategy

  VGTRK and Channel One Russia reorganized their children’s television offering.

  What changed. 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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• 2022Criticism over wartime propaganda and disinformationControversy

  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.

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• 2022European Broadcasting Union suspends VGTRK membership

  The European Broadcasting Union suspended VGTRK’s membership indefinitely after Russian broadcasters were excluded from Eurovision following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

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• 2022Canada sanctions VGTRK

  Canada imposed sanctions on VGTRK in the context of measures against Russian state media and institutions following the invasion of Ukraine.

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• 2022YouTube blocks VGTRK channels

  YouTube blocked VGTRK’s principal channel along with other Russian state-media accounts; additional regional channels were blocked in 2024.

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• 2022VGTRK channels distributed in occupied Kherson region

  Russia’s Ministry of Defense announced that residents of the occupied southern Ukrainian Kherson region would receive Russian state television channels, including VGTRK services, instead of Ukrainian television.

  RegulationOther
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• 2015RTR Planeta banned in Lithuania

  Lithuania banned RTR Planeta, VGTRK’s international television service, amid concerns about the channel’s content and its role in Russian information broadcasting.

  Regulation
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• 2013VGTRK announces Digital Television channel package

  VGTRK announced the consolidation of eleven specialized digital television services under the Digital Television package.

  Product launch
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1. All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company
2. VGTRK official website