Channel One is the inaugural television channel to be broadcast in Russia. From 1995 to 2002, the channel operated under the name Russian Public Television (Общественное Российское Телевидение, ORT).
Media assets
Television: Pervyy kanal, Telecafe, Dom kino, Music One TV, Vremya, Dom kino Premium, Bober, Perviy Kanal Evraziya
State Media Matrix Typology: Captured Public/State-Managed (CaPu)
Ownership and governance
The Russian state holds 51% of the shares in Channel One through various state entities, with the Federal Agency for State Property Management representing the largest holding at nearly 39%. This information has been sourced from experts interviewed in March 2023 and June 2024. The remaining 51% is held by two state-owned entities, namely FSUE Itar-Tass and FSUE Ostankino.
Source of funding and budget
Channel One typically generates revenue through a combination of advertising and state subsidies. However, in recent years, the subsidy from the federal budget for Channel One has been significantly reduced, according to Russian experts interviewed for this report in March 2023 and February 2024.
In 2019, Channel One generated revenues of RUB 27bn and received a state subsidy of RUB 2.5bn. In 2021 and 2022, the channel received the same state budget subsidy, a total of RUB 6.27bn, according to media reports.
The channel has been experiencing significant losses in recent years, prompting the government to issue new shares to attract additional private investment.
A study by the Media and Journalism Research Center (MJRC) indicates that Channel One’s revenue in 2021 demonstrated a recovery trend following a decline in 2020, which saw the lowest revenue in a decade at RUB 25.2bn (US$ 299.8m). Channel One concluded 2021 with revenue of RUB 28 billion (equivalent to US$ 347 million).
Regarding the company’s net profit, the past decade has been marked by significant challenges, including billion-ruble losses from 2013 to 2019. However, 2020 proved to be its most profitable year, with a net profit of RUB 6.3bn (US$ 78m). In 2021, its net profit declined significantly to RUB 581m (US $7.2m).
Editorial independence
The editorial coverage and policies at Channel One are subject to strict control by the Kremlin. The channel has been used by the state apparatus to advance the government’s agenda and disseminate a narrative aligned with the interests of the Russian authorities. In academic studies and independent media reports, the channel is described as a propaganda tool in the hands of the Kremlin. There is further evidence of censorship in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
No internal statute or independent assessment and oversight mechanism to validate Channel One’s editorial independence has been identified.
September 2024