Public TV is starting broadcasts in Russia

A public television channel is starting broadcasts in Russia on May 19. This new Russian federal channel based on principles of public television will appear free and automatically in the networks of all cable, satellite and IP-television operators at 12:00 Moscow time. Anatoly Lysenko, the director general of the Russian Public Television told Itar-Tass that the channel would be educational and was supposed to become a new floor for discussing urgent problems that are a source of concern for Russian society. The channel should also be an instrument of direct and open communication between the people and the authorities. "We are going to show our viewers programs telling about little known corners of our country as well as cultural, public and political life in Russia,” Lysenko said. He emphasized that the focus would be made on regions. “We have given up the practice of giving Moscow most of the time on air and have given it to regional news and stories instead,” Lysenko went on to say. Lysenko said that the channel would open with a 25-minute news program to be followed by the Big Country program telling about life outside Moscow: events and personalities in the country’s history, the self-organization of regional community, the solution of civil problems and inter-ethnic relations. A “Non-Standard Model” program will be an educational platform for people who are interested in science, advanced technologies and business,” Lysenko said. Academician Alexander Sergeyev and Yevgeny Nasyrov, a member of the Club of Scientific Journalists and Popularizers. Lysenko said that some documentaries and feature films would be shown on the first day of broadcasts. A program on the activities of civil activists “Are you right? Yes!” will go on air at 21:10 Moscow time. Its first issue will be devoted to the history and development of the young pioneers’ organization as well as the work of modern children’s and teenage associations. The Public TV will run in the test regime during the first several months and will start operating at full capacity in September 2013. The channel continues hiring journalists. The Public TV has already concluded dozens of contracts with regional stringers. “I believe that all the staff will be hired by September,” Lysenko stressed. Any TV viewer will be able to create television content. “We are open to any proposals. We are receiving plenty of initiatives from the Russian public on how the channel should work. It’s clear that people are looking forward to watching this channel,” Lysenko stressed. The state has allocated 1.5 billion rubles this year. Most Russians would prefer watching homemade feature films and federal news on Russian Public Television, according to a sociological survey carried out by the Russian Public Opinion Foundation in 43 Russian regions and territories late in April. "About 43% of respondents said they would like to see regional news on Public Television; 28% spoke in favor of programs for youth and children; 20% - in favor of popular science programs, 17% would prefer programs on arts and culture,” according to Inna Ivanova, senior expert at the Russian Public Opinion Foundation. Ivanova said that more than half of all respondents believed that Public Television should be more truthful and honest than other television channels and should also lack cruelty and violence. Besides, the Russians believe that the public TV channel should run programs promoting morality and ethics. Ivanova emphasized that almost 60% of respondents would not agree to make minor voluntary contributions to maintain Public Television. “About 26% replied that they would agree to make some contributions while 15% hesitated to give any answer,” Ivanova said. Out of those who are ready to allocate regular contributions for the public TV channel, most said they were ready to pay 50 rubles a month, 28% said they were ready to pay a hundred rubles a month and 20% - about 50 rubles a month. A decree on institution of Public Television in Russia was signed in April 2012. In legal terms, the Public Television will be a non-profit autonomous organization, which will simultaneously be the founder, the editorial board and the broadcaster. A Council for Public Television chaired by actor Oleg Tabakov will oversee the channel’s work, which is expected to be watched by over 80 million people.