RT: Media supervision stops broadcasting of »RT DE« by satellite

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The logo of the Russian state TV broadcaster RT

Photo: Pavel Golovkin / dpa

The Russian state medium RT suffered another setback when broadcasting its new German-language TV program.

The media authority Berlin-Brandenburg announced that the satellite operator Eutelsat stopped the satellite broadcast on Wednesday.

According to the media authority, the European commissioner of the state media authorities, Tobias Schmid, the media regulators in Berlin and European supervisory authorities had agreed in advance - and Schmid had informed Eutelsat of the facts.

The background to the decision is that German regulators have not issued a broadcasting license for the broadcast.

RT relies on a Serbian broadcast license.

An earlier attempt by the broadcaster to get a license via Luxembourg had failed.

On its own website, RT DE also reported on the cessation of distribution via the Eutelsat 9B platform: "We take the position that this approach constitutes unlawful exertion of pressure, and we are confident that the competent courts will take action against this action." exhaust possible legal remedies.

Last week, RT started its German-language live program via various distribution channels.

After a few hours, YouTube blocked the channel on its platform and relied on community guidelines.

The media regulators in Berlin initiated proceedings against RT the day after.

Russia threatens countermeasures

According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, RT DE has been registered in Serbia under the European Convention on Transfrontier Television.

"Germany is a signatory to the agreement and must adhere to it," he told RT.

The German authorities did everything to create "a negative image" of the station in society.

"Such discrimination against the Russian media has been observed for many years," Lavrov said, threatening countermeasures: "If this situation continues, we have to respond." He did not give any details.

RT - formerly Russia Today - is repeatedly criticized in the West as the Kremlin's propaganda tool.

Central allegation: The station spreads conspiracy theories and disinformation on behalf of the Russian state.

RT rejects that.

The broadcaster has several foreign language programs in its portfolio.

RT DE has been offering online reports in German for a long time.

The content is disseminated via the website and social media.

Distance from the state must not be violated

RT DE has a location in Berlin.

TV providers require a broadcasting license for nationwide programs in Germany.

The route of distribution does not matter.

The media regulators are of the opinion that RT DE Productions GmbH, based in Berlin, is responsible for the program under media law.

One of the admission requirements is that the constitutional principle that broadcasting is not from the state may not be violated, i.e. a state or a party may not exert any influence on the program content.

sak / AFP / dpa