More Than 20 International TV Groups Turning Off Russian Channels

According to Deadline, more than 20 international media groups are no longer broadcasting Russian news and instead opting for United News which Ukraine backs. 

United News is a 24-hour newscast collaboration between four major Ukraine TV groups, including 1+1 Media. 

A 1+1 Media spokesperson told Deadline that news providers in Poland, Australia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Canada, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Bulgaria, and Germany are no longer broadcasting ‘propagandistic TV channels’ including RT, NTV, RTR, and 1 Channel.

Other major Ukraine TV groups include StarLightMedia, MG Ukraine, and Inter Media Group. Broadcasters intend on utilizing United News to spread the correct information. The show targets “comprehensive information from different regions of the country.”

The decision to move forward with United News comes after the Ukraine Media organizations prompted the world to impose “media sanctions” in Russia. 

The 1+1 spokeswoman says, “Russian was not ready to face such resistance of Ukrainian people. The media community also repulses the enemy greatly. Today we ask all conscious citizens to judge Russian aggression and ban propagandistic content about this country.” 

1+1 has also created a “digital flash mob” using hashtag #TurnOffRussia to gain media attention. The hashtag has recently moved into the fifth day and is used online to discuss the conflict. 

Deadline reports, “When the conflict started in earnest Thursday, some Ukrainian channels were still showing entertainment programs, but Deadline reported late last week on a pivot to back-to-back news, with commercial advertising turned off. Ukrainian news bosses have reported through-the-roof TV news ratings in recent weeks, and all media groups have enacted contingency plans to keep broadcasting.”