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Russian Cable Station Plays to U.S.
New York Times ^ | August 23, 2010 | Andrew Kramer

Posted on 08/23/2010 2:27:30 PM PDT by La Lydia

MOSCOW — Only a handful of viewers may know it, but a 24-hour cable news station sponsored by the Russian government is making inroads in American cable markets. No longer viewing America through the lens of Communist ideology, the Russians’ new take on the United States is more subtle: Russia Today, offers a blend of social critique, debates on international issues and a dip into conspiracy theories that is helping ratings...

Russia Today, which is financed by the Russian government, has 20 million potential viewers in the United States. It has poured money into a Washington bureau, with 40 editorial positions there, and signed cable deals this year in Los Angeles and San Diego...

Russia Today has been broadcasting worldwide, in English, since 2005. Until a year ago, however, the focus fell exclusively on Russia...What is new is the channel’s effort to report news about the United States for an American audience....

Garry Kasparov, former chess champion who is now an opposition activist in Russia, said the channel had other goals...

As the principal organ of external propaganda for the Russian government, Kasparov said, Russia Today is an extension of the methods and approach of the state-controlled media inside Russia, applied in a bid to influence the American cable audience.

“There are certain rules of any dictatorship: never save money on police or propaganda,” Mr. Kasparov...“They made many cuts on social programs, but they spend money on propaganda.”

But like the government in the Kremlin today, he said, the channel is not an ideologically driven organization. Rather than persuading audiences of the supremacy of Moscow’s system, the goal is to win acceptance in foreign policy circles for a government with a wobbly record on human rights and observance of the rule of law, Mr. Kasparov said....

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Russia
KEYWORDS: cabletv; media; publictelevision
I wonder why the New York Times omitted the fact the one of the largest distributors of the RT news programming is a PUBLIC TELEVISION group called MHz?
1 posted on 08/23/2010 2:27:30 PM PDT by La Lydia
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To: La Lydia

Here is their top rated show, "What Fits Into Russia."

2 posted on 08/23/2010 2:31:35 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: dfwgator

“Brought to you by the Ministry of Silly Haircuts.”


3 posted on 08/23/2010 2:34:19 PM PDT by FroggyTheGremlim (He promised hope; he gave us hype. He promised change; he gave us chains!)
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To: La Lydia

Huh.

I’d rather get my news from Pravda than CNN and the rest of Obama’s media stooges.


4 posted on 08/23/2010 2:37:08 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd (PALIN/MCCAIN IN 2012 - barf alert? sarc tag? -- can't decide)
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To: La Lydia

I thought they were talking about MSNBC.....


5 posted on 08/23/2010 2:37:27 PM PDT by KeepUSfree (WOSD = fascism pure and simple.)
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To: eCSMaster

Here it is on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXqKkYYALMU


6 posted on 08/23/2010 2:37:31 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: KeepUSfree

Dude! Some days it’s hard to tell the difference. I have watched RT and most days, it presents a more positive picture of our country than MSNBC.


7 posted on 08/23/2010 2:42:57 PM PDT by La Lydia
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To: La Lydia

I have to admit, they are pretty good, this isn’t the old days of Vremya, which would show 15 minutes of stock footage of grain being harvested.


8 posted on 08/23/2010 2:45:19 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: dfwgator
I have to admit, they are pretty good, this isn’t the old days of Vremya, which would show 15 minutes of stock footage of grain being harvested.

They can't. The tapes with that stock footage burned up with the grain this year.

9 posted on 08/23/2010 2:51:50 PM PDT by KarlInOhio (Gun control was originally to protect Klansmen from their victims. The basic reason hasn't changed.)
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To: dfwgator

Awesome!, can’t wait to see my favorite morning show; Today is Moscow.


10 posted on 08/23/2010 2:57:56 PM PDT by correctthought ("Communism is a temporary setback, on the road to freedom" - Liberty Prime)
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To: correctthought

Old Soviet morning exercise show

Ras...dva...tri...chyetirye.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVUaYVjhcTQ


11 posted on 08/23/2010 3:10:54 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: La Lydia
No longer viewing America through the lens of Communist ideology...

...because American media has already got the communist ideology part covered and the Russians don't need the competition.

12 posted on 08/23/2010 3:11:48 PM PDT by OrangeHoof (Washington, we Texans want a divorce!)
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To: dfwgator

It’s ok, but I usually stick to 3CP1.


13 posted on 08/23/2010 3:16:08 PM PDT by correctthought ("Communism is a temporary setback, on the road to freedom" - Liberty Prime)
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To: correctthought

Just watch out for those Uzbeks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hCCCRAcTAA


14 posted on 08/23/2010 3:20:30 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: dfwgator

Just watch out for those Uzbeks.

They ARE the weak link in the great chain of socialism.

//ROFL


15 posted on 08/23/2010 3:27:14 PM PDT by correctthought ("Communism is a temporary setback, on the road to freedom" - Liberty Prime)
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To: correctthought

Hey Giorgy, Uzbeks drank my battery fluid.


16 posted on 08/23/2010 3:28:14 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: La Lydia
>> I have watched RT and most days, it presents a more positive picture of our country than MSNBC <<

Same here. I'd say both RT and the al-Jazeera English service are often less anti-American than MSNBC and CNN.

In my experience, moreover, RT and AJE are always less anti-American than CNN International -- a dreadful service that you'll usually get in your hotel room if you travel in Europe or many parts of Asia

17 posted on 08/23/2010 3:56:54 PM PDT by Hawthorn
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To: Hawthorn

CNN International is polluting Latin America, too.


18 posted on 08/23/2010 4:01:40 PM PDT by La Lydia
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