RT
RT—formerly known as Russia Today—is a Russian state-controlled television network targeting a global audience.
Media assets
Television: RT International, RT France, RT America, RT UK, RT Arabic, RT Documentary, RT Actualidad, RT Deutsch
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
RT is run by TV‑Novosti, a non-profit entity originally established by the now-defunct RIA Novosti, the state-owned news agency. RT also operates as the parent entity of Ruptly, which in turn owns the video platform Redfish and the digital portal Maffick.
Europe’s sweeping sanctions in late 2022, specifically the EU’s ninth package, targeted TV‑Novosti and its CEO, leading to frozen assets and forcing closures of RT offices across Europe. Notably, RT’s branches in France and Germany were shuttered or absorbed into operations based in Moscow.
In the wake of Western sanctions that shuttered European hubs, TV‑Novosti centralized news production in Moscow and invested more heavily in its Arabic-language service, including hiring new journalistic talent and expanding original content production.
Source of funding and budget
RT is financed mostly by subsidies from the Russian federal government. As reported, in 2024 RT’s expenses soared to a record RUB 31.7 billion (~US$390 million), a RUB 4.2 billion hike over 2023. Of that, RUB 28.6 billion came directly from state appropriations. Looking ahead, RT is slated to receive RUB 79 billion over the 2025–2027 period—underscoring continued heavy state backing.
Editorial independence
A wealth of research, including academic studies and NGO reports, paints a consistent picture of RT’s role in disseminating Kremlin-aligned narratives. Politico’s investigation, based on Oxford University interviews with ex‑RT journalists, shone a light on editorial processes, underscoring concerns over internal censorship and propagandistic content. To date, no internal charter or independent oversight has been identified to safeguard editorial autonomy. That remains unchanged.
August 2025