When did Russia-1 first go on air?
Russia-1 first aired on the 14th of February 1956 as Programme Two in the Soviet Union. It relaunched as RTR on the 13th of May 1991 and later became known as Russia-1.
Questions about Russia-1
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What is Russia-1 and who owns it?
Russia-1 is a state-owned Russian television channel and the flagship of the All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, known as VGTRK. It is the most-watched channel in Russia, with an average daily audience of 1,338,000 as of 2020.
What role did Russia-1 play during the August 1991 coup?
When the Emergency Committee halted RTR's transmissions on the 19th of August 1991, the channel broadcast clandestinely using an outside broadcast van at a facility on Shabolovka Street, reaching viewers across the USSR and in other countries. The broadcasts continued until the coup failed.
Why was Russia-1 sanctioned by the United States in 2022?
On the 8th of May 2022, the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Russia-1 for being owned or controlled by, or acting on behalf of, the Government of Russia. The channel's news programming had been noted for its presenters proposing Russian nuclear attacks on Western countries.
Who was the first host of Russia-1's Vesti newscast?
Svetlana Sorokina hosted the premiere telecast of Vesti on the 13th of May 1991. The debut bulletin included reporting on destruction in an Armenian village and an interview with the Lithuanian president.
How many languages does Russia-1 broadcast in?
Since the 8th of May 1998, Russia-1 has broadcast in 54 languages of the peoples of Russia. That same integration of regional television and radio made VGTRK the largest media group in Europe.