A Brief History of Russia TV
Russia TV is a free-to-view television channel owned by the Russian government. It carries a wide range of programming which includes news, music, comedy, sports, talk shows, dramas, and factual reenacts. The name of the channel itself is very suggestive, as it often references past Russian events and figures, as well as the country's role in popularizing certain movies or games abroad. For example, the English language version of the channel is named after the author and playwright Lev Grossman, while the Russian version features Alexander Pushkin as its main figure. Despite the language barriers, both languages are available for download on the Grendo Media website.
The current host of Russia TV, Vasili Grendo, has had some controversy regarding his appointment as a guest commentator on the US election. His controversial remarks about Sarah Palin, calling her 'a piece of garbage' and comparing President Obama to a head of Taurus, caused a lot of upset in the United States. He has since issued an apology on his Facebook page, stating that his comments were intended to be humorous. According to the channel's website, Grendo is an expert in communications and advice to people from all over the world. He also hosts a popular radio show on the channel, which can be heard online in its entirety.
The station also offers an online video section, which has become very popular with viewers who can log in and add their comments. They can also rate and comment on any given video, which makes it easy for users to recommend videos that they like or dislike. According to reports, the Russia TV online video site has reached 500 million views in total. Another interesting aspect of this online platform is that anyone can access it for free, as long as they have internet access.
