Vmeste-RF

Vmeste-RF (Вместе-РФ) is a Russian television channel owned and operated by the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. It is described as the first parliamentary television channel in Russia, dedicated to covering the work of the upper chamber of the Russian parliament. The channel broadcasts via cable and satellite television networks and positions itself as a 'Channel of the Regions'. Its programming includes live broadcasts of Federation Council sessions, parliamentary hearings, regional news, educational and popular science programs, and documentary films. The idea for the channel was announced in autumn 2012 by the Federation Council's press service, with plans to launch a round-the-clock internet television channel in 2013. The initiator was Valentina Matviyenko, Chairwoman of the Federation Council. The channel was to be based at three locations: two in Moscow (Federation Council buildings on Bolshaya Dmitrovka Street and Novy Arbat) and one in Saint Petersburg (at the Tavrichesky Palace, home of the Interparliamentary Assembly of CIS member states). The launch was initially planned for January 2013 but was delayed because the Russian Ministry of Finance did not allocate the necessary funds. Matviyenko requested 265.2 million rubles for 2013–2015, but the Ministry refused, suggesting the channel be created using funds already allocated to the Federation Council. The channel eventually began broadcasting in spring 2013. On April 27, 2013, Russian Parliamentarism Day, Valentina Matviyenko announced the creation of the new Federation Council channel 'Vmeste-RF' during a plenary session, where a short promotional video was shown. On November 9, 2020, the channel changed its logo and on-air design for the first time since its founding. The previous 3D concept 'Glass Universe' was replaced by a flat 'Pixels' concept with dominant square 2D elements. The live broadcast studio in the Federation Council building was also updated, equipped with an 8 m² horizontal wall screen. The channel's distribution includes two satellite operators (Tricolor TV and GeoTelecommunications via the ABS-2A satellite) and cable networks such as Rostelecom and other cable operators. Its audience has grown over the years: approximately 40 million people as of early August 2015, around 55 million as of January 1, 2018, and a technical reach of about 70 million as of November 26, 2020. The channel's team includes chief editor Gennady Krylov, director Elena Porkhomovskaya, and various program hosts such as Alexander Vekker, Svetlana Mitina, Alexey Mak, Alina Maksimova, Denis Shilov, Boris Dedenev, Denis Dyakonov, and Anton Voytsekhovsky. Its programs include 'Said in the Senate', 'Actual Interview', 'News of the Federation Council', 'On Legal Grounds', 'State Council of the Russian Empire', 'Zemstvo Reform', 'Our Brand', 'Points of Growth', and 'Together with Science'. The channel also maintains a presence on Telegram and VKontakte, and is linked to the online publication 'SenatInform'.

The creation of a Federation Council television channel was announced in autumn 2012. The press service of the Federation Council reported plans to launch a round-the-clock television channel for internet broadcasting in 2013. The initiator was Valentina Matviyenko, Chairwoman of the Federation Council, who proposed the first parliamentary television in Russia. The channel was to be located at three sites: two in Moscow (Federation Council buildings at 26 Bolshaya Dmitrovka Street and 19 Novy Arbat Street) and one in Saint Petersburg (at the Tavrichesky Palace, the seat of the Interparliamentary Assembly of CIS member states). Renovation was carried out at the Bolshaya Dmitrovka building, with premises prepared for the news editorial office and a studio built. The launch was planned for January 2013, but the Russian Ministry of Finance did not allocate the necessary funds. Matviyenko requested 265.2 million rubles from the Ministry of Finance for the channel's development in 2013–2015. The Ministry refused, as budget allocations for 2013–2015 had already been distributed to the federal subjects. The Ministry suggested that the Federation Council create the channel using funds already allocated to the upper chamber. The channel began broadcasting in spring 2013. On April 27, 2013, Russian Parliamentarism Day, Valentina Matviyenko announced the creation of the new Federation Council television channel 'Vmeste-RF' at a plenary session. A short promotional video about the channel was shown. On November 9, 2020, the channel changed its logo and on-air design for the first time since its founding. The previous 3D concept 'Glass Universe' was replaced by the 'Pixels' concept, making the entire channel packaging flat with dominant square 2D elements. The channel also updated the appearance and equipment of its live broadcast studio in the Federation Council building, equipping it with an 8 m² horizontal wall screen. The channel broadcasts through two satellite operators (Tricolor TV and GeoTelecommunications via the ABS-2A satellite) and cable networks including Rostelecom and other cable operators. Audience figures: approximately 40 million people as of early August 2015; around 55 million as of January 1, 2018; technical reach of about 70 million as of November 26, 2020. The channel's team includes chief editor Gennady Krylov, director Elena Porkhomovskaya, Elza Gazetdinova (Director of the Information and Analytical Broadcasting Directorate), Ruslan Magomadov (Chief Director of the same directorate), Elena Nemshilova (Program Director), and Alexander Mamedov (Acting Chief Operator). Hosts include Alexander Vekker, Svetlana Mitina, Alexey Mak, Alina Maksimova, Denis Shilov, Boris Dedenev, Denis Dyakonov, and Anton Voytsekhovsky. Programs include 'Said in the Senate', 'Actual Interview', 'News of the Federation Council', 'On Legal Grounds', 'State Council of the Russian Empire', 'Zemstvo Reform', 'Our Brand', 'Points of Growth', and 'Together with Science'.

• 2020

  On November 9, channel changes logo and on-air design for the first time; technical reach about 70 million as of November 26.

• 2018

  Audience reaches around 55 million as of January 1.

• 2015

  Audience reaches approximately 40 million people as of early August.

• 2013

  Channel begins broadcasting in spring; officially announced on April 27, Russian Parliamentarism Day.

• 2012

  Federation Council announces plans to create its own television channel.

Channel of the Regions; first parliamentary TV channel in Russia

• News of the Federation Council

• Said in the Senate

• Actual Interview

• On Legal Grounds

• State Council of the Russian Empire

• Zemstvo Reform

• Our Brand

• Points of Growth

• Together with Science

1. 1Официальный сайт телеканала «Вместе-РФ»vmeste-rf.tv
2. 2Wikidata: Vmeste-RFwikidata.org
3. 3Википедия: Вместе-РФ (телеканал)ru.wikipedia.org