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'Russian CNN' fizzles off air on third day
AFP/Yahoo ^ | 10/12/05

Posted on 12/12/2005 6:17:16 AM PST by martin_fierro

'Russian CNN' fizzles off air on third day

1 hour, 50 minutes ago

MOSCOW (AFP) - Russia's new round-the-clock English-language global television channel, intended to project the country's image abroad, went abruptly off air, two days after its long-trumpeted launch.

Broadcasts by Russia Today, dubbed "Russia's CNN" by promoters, were interrupted and replaced with a test screen, apparently due to technical problems.

An official in the office of the channel's editor-in-chief, Margarita Simonyan, refused to comment on the interruption, while the channel's press office was not answering telephone calls.

The state-run RIA-Novosti news agency said the channel had suffered an attack on its computer system.

"Due to attempts to attack the computer system of the Russian Today television channel from outside and the suspicion of an infection by viruses, the television channel was forced to interrupt broadcasts," RIA-Novosti said, quoting a communique from the channel.

Organisers have said Russia Today will give a Russian outlook on global affairs, but critics have dismissed the channel as a Kremlin-driven propaganda effort.

The channel's broadcasts are supposed to be viewable in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa on NTV Plus, a satellite subscription service.

Saturday's launch had been repeatedly delayed. Insiders at the channel blamed this on inexperience among some of the channel's staff, many of whom are nationals of English-speaking countries, while Simonyan earlier spoke of some staff lacking knowledge of the country.


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; Russia
KEYWORDS: poorbranding; pwn3d
It might've succeeded had they called it "Russia's Fox News".
1 posted on 12/12/2005 6:17:16 AM PST by martin_fierro
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To: martin_fierro

I wish the real CNN would "fizzle off the air".


2 posted on 12/12/2005 6:19:40 AM PST by SIDENET ("IT'S A COOKBOOK!!!")
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To: martin_fierro

"3CP1 on your dial, Russian Television."


3 posted on 12/12/2005 6:20:15 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: dfwgator

There is no pravda in Pravda.


4 posted on 12/12/2005 6:21:30 AM PST by TXBSAFH ("I would rather be a free man in my grave then living as a puppet or a slave." - Jimmy Cliff)
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To: martin_fierro
"Due to attempts to attack the computer system of the Russian Today television channel from outside and the suspicion of an infection by viruses, the television channel was forced to interrupt broadcasts," RIA-Novosti said, quoting a communique from the channel.

I wonder who did it. I doubt it was U.S. conservatives, we could care less about another liberal news channel in a foreign nation.

5 posted on 12/12/2005 6:21:36 AM PST by Paul C. Jesup
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To: Paul C. Jesup

Soros.


6 posted on 12/12/2005 6:23:53 AM PST by GarySpFc (De Oppresso Liber)
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To: =Intervention=; adam_az; an amused spectator; bert; BlessedBeGod; BlessedByLiberty; Blurblogger; ...

Based on an amused spectator's list
Send FReepmail if you want on/off MSP list
The List of Ping Lists

7 posted on 12/12/2005 6:24:30 AM PST by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: martin_fierro

Didn't the same thing happen to AlgoreTV a couple of months ago?


8 posted on 12/12/2005 6:27:58 AM PST by Mr. Brightside
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To: GarySpFc

Okay, and how would he gain from it?


9 posted on 12/12/2005 6:28:54 AM PST by Paul C. Jesup
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To: martin_fierro
The state-run RIA-Novosti news agency said the channel had suffered an attack on its computer system.

Why do I not believe TASS? Must be that cold war thing.

10 posted on 12/12/2005 6:30:54 AM PST by RGSpincich
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To: martin_fierro

Sounds like they copied Air America's business plan, but missed the page where it says "get funded by raiding local charities."


11 posted on 12/12/2005 6:36:33 AM PST by Clioman
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To: RGSpincich
The state-run RIA-Novosti news agency said the channel had suffered an attack on its computer system.

Why do I not believe TASS? Must be that cold war thing.

I believe it in this case. My computer firewall is always notifying me of attempted hacking originating from Russia.

12 posted on 12/12/2005 6:43:18 AM PST by edpc
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To: martin_fierro

"Saturday's launch had been repeatedly delayed. Insiders at the channel blamed this on inexperience among some of the channel's staff, many of whom are nationals of English-speaking countries, while Simonyan earlier spoke of some staff lacking knowledge of the country."

Funny, the 24 hour news programs in english-speaking countries tend to run 24/7.

If the staff hired is inexperienced, is the fault that of the staff or the managers who hired them not being able to identify competent employees?

Most english speaking employees won't like being personally blamed in the international media....


13 posted on 12/12/2005 7:00:26 AM PST by adam_az (It's the border, stupid!)
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To: Mr. Brightside
Great question! Is it still on the air - haven't heard anything in the MSM about that vast base of Gore knowledge since it first launched. Hmmm?
14 posted on 12/12/2005 9:39:23 AM PST by BlessedByLiberty (Respectfully submitted,)
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To: martin_fierro
"Russia's CNN"

Redundant?

15 posted on 12/12/2005 9:45:19 AM PST by Wurlitzer (I have the biggest organ in my town {;o))
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To: Wurlitzer

Well I can't say that I am that surprised. The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree.


16 posted on 12/13/2005 3:49:41 PM PST by outfield
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