RTR-Planeta is the international service of VGTRK, a state-owned broadcaster in Russia. It is available throughout the world via cable and satellite.

History

On June 30, 2002, VGTRK executive Oleg Dobrodeev announced the creation of RTR-Planeta, aiming at Western Europe and the Middle East with plans to launch in North America by autumn. According to Dobrodeev, RTR-Planeta wasn't "a commercial project", meaning that there would be no commercial advertising "for the time being". The channel launched on July 1, 2002 using the Express-3A satellite. Programming included morning relays of Euronews, RTR's programming, including Vesti's editions, its TV series and movies, as well as some programming from Kultura. The channel was financed by the VGTRK's internal reserves and did not receive funding from the State. Until then, the Russian version of the channel aired with foreign advertising.

Broadcasting

RTR Planeta is the only provider of Russian-language programming to the Asia-Pacific region covered by the AsiaSat 2 Satellite. To step up the accessibility of its content to viewers RTR Planeta has eagerly embraced new technologies launching in various IPTV, ADSL and other advanced networks. In October 2009 a separate version of the TV channel to broadcast via the Eutelsat 36A satellite to Ukrainian TV viewers was especially created. This was done because on November 1, 2008 the Ukrainian Television and Radio Broadcasting Council demanded that (Ukrainian) cable operators remove Russian TV channels that did not adopt the Ukrainian legislation from their broadcasting lists. The decision affected, in particular, RTR-Planeta, Channel One and TV Center. On May 1, 2010, RTR Planeta returned to the Ukrainian cable networks.

Bans