Eurasia Channel One
Channel One Eurasia, better known locally as Eurasia Channel One, is the most-watched television station in Kazakhstan, tracing its roots back to its launch in November 1997.
Media assets
Television: Eurasia Channel 1
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
Eurasia Channel One is jointly owned by the governments of Kazakhstan and Russia. According to an AidData media ownership profile, Kazakhstan holds roughly an 80 % stake, with the remaining 20 % held by Russian interests via various entities (government of Russia, VTB Bank, National Media Group and Sogaz).
The Kazakh government has been planing since December 2023 to buy out the 20% Russian share in Channel One Eurasia as part of efforts to reduce reliance on Russian content and bolster domestic programming. This plan is still pending, according to journalists in Kazakhstan interviewed for this report in May 2025.
Source of funding and budget
Concrete figures on government subsidies to Channel One Eurasia remain unknown. Interviews with journalists in Astana conducted in April 2024 in Astana indicate the channel is entirely financed by public funds.
Editorial independence
There remains no evidence of statutory safeguards ensuring editorial independence for Eurasia Channel One. No oversight bodies or independent assessments have been identified in support of editorial autonomy. The channel continues to be widely regarded as a platform that advances content aligned with Russian government perspectives rather than serving as a robustly independent broadcaster.
August 2025