View source for RTVI

{{Short description|International Russian-language television network}}
{{distinguish|RT (TV network){{!}}RTTV}}
{{Expand Russian|date=August 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = RTVI
| logo = RTVI Logo magenta fill 2021.png
| logo_size = 200px
| launch_date = 1 January 1997
| owner = Mikayel Israyelyan<ref name=Project25122019>{{cite news |url=https://www.proekt.media/narrative/liberal-sergey-chemezov/ |title=Друзья по особым поручениям. Рассказ о том, как Сергей Чемезов связался с либералами |trans-title=Friends on special missions. The story of how Sergey Chemezov got in touch with liberals |work=Проект Медиа (Proekt) |last1=Сотников |first1=Даниил (Sotnikov, Daniil) |last2=Чуракова |first2=Ольга (Churakova, Olga) |last3=Баданин |first3=Роман (Badanin, Roman) |last4=Рубин |first4=Михаил (Rubin, Mikhail) |last5=Сурначева |first5=Елизавета (Surnacheva, Elizabeth) |date=25 December 2019 |access-date=30 December 2019 |language=Russian}}</ref>
| country = [[United States]]<br />[[Germany]]<br />[[Israel]]<br />[[Sweden]]
| area = Worldwide
| headquarters = [[Moscow]]<ref>{{Cite web|lang=ru-RU|url=https://www.agents.media/rtvi/|title=Телеканал, связанный с «Ростехом», продолжает вещание в США • «Агентство»|author=Maksim Gorozhanko|website=«Агентство»|date=2022-08-09|access-date=2023-06-22}}</ref><br />[[New York City|New York]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=RTVI разрешили вещать на Украине. С 2018 года телеканал был под запретом|url=https://rtvi.com/news/rtvi-razreshili-veshchat-na-ukraine-s-2018-goda-telekanal-byl-pod-zapretom/|access-date=2023-05-14|website=rtvi.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Телеканал RTVi|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/1898483|access-date=2023-05-14|website=kommersant.ru}}</ref>
|language='''First languages'''<br />[[Russian language|Russian]]<br />[[English language|English]]<br />'''Second languages'''<br />[[German language|German]]<br />[[Hebrew]]<br />[[Spanish language|Spanish]]<br />[[Swedish language|Swedish]]
| former_names = NTV International (1997–2002)
| website = [http://rtvi.com rtvi.com]
}}
'''RTVI''' is a global Russian-speaking multi-platform media, which includes a news website (about 4 million users per month) and other digital platforms (2.7 million subscribers): 6 YouTube channels, 2 Telegram channels and accounts in all major social networks.

As of 2023, it broadcasts in 159 countries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rtvi.tv/|title=RTVI.TV|website=rtvi.tv|access-date=2023-01-10|archive-date=2017-02-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203124932/http://rtvi.com/watch|url-status=live}}</ref> It has more than 350 broadcasting operators around the world and 20 million viewers.{{cn|date=March 2023}} [[File:RTVI.svg|thumb|Old logo of RTVi]]
[[File:RTVi, Media Most, NEWSru.jpg|thumb|Subsidiary in Israel]]

==History==

=== 1990s ===
In 1997, the channel was founded as ''NTV International'' by [[Vladimir Gusinsky]], where it would serve as the "international, license-cleared version" of the [[NTV (Russia)|NTV channel]].<ref>New owner</ref> Its main audiences were the Russian-speaking diasporas of [[Russians in Israel|Israel]], the [[Russian Americans|United States]], and Europe.<ref name="meduza">{{cite web|url=https://meduza.io/feature/2016/11/02/vechnoe-ntv|title=Вечное НТВ. Как новый инвестор планирует развивать бывший телеканал Владимира Гусинского RTVi. Репортаж Ильи Жегулева|publisher=[[Meduza]]|date=2016-11-02|access-date=2017-02-18|archive-date=2020-06-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608002044/https://meduza.io/feature/2016/11/02/vechnoe-ntv|url-status=live}}</ref>

===2000s===
Following the [[Kursk disaster]], numerous independent media outlets became very critical of Vladimir Putin who later would support an agenda for the state to gain control of these outlets.{{Citation needed|date=August 2025}}

In April 2002, two independent broadcasters the [[:ru:Норкин, Андрей Владимирович|Andrey Norkin]] and [[:ru:Крискевич, Вячеслав Игоревич|Vyacheslav Kriskevich]] associated [[Echo TV Russia|Echo]] ({{langx|ru|"Эхо"}}), which is the television version of the radio station [[Echo of Moscow]], and the [[Yevgeny Kiselyov]] associated [[TV-6 (Russia)|TV6]], which aired the program "Grani" ({{langx|ru|"Грани"}}) by [[Vladimir Kara-Murza]], who was an advisor to Vladimir Putin opponent [[Boris Nemtsov]], and would rename itself as [[TVS (Russia)|TVS]], began offering their products to the NTV-International channel, which planned to change its name to RTV or "Russia Televion".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newsru.com/russia/15Apr2002/norkin.html |title=В России создается мультимедийный проект "Эхо" |trans-title=Multimedia project "Echo" is being created in Russia |language=ru |work=news.ru |date=15 April 2002 |access-date=26 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926193844/https://www.newsru.com/russia/15Apr2002/norkin.html |archive-date=26 September 2024}}</ref> Both Vyacheslav Kriskevich, who was a presenter of "Today on TV6" [[:ru:Новости ТВС (телепрограмма)|«Сегодня на ТВ-6»]], which later was renamed "Now" ({{langx|ru|«Сейчас»}}), and Andrey Norkin, who both had been employed by TV6, moved their support to RTV instead of TVS.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.utro.ru/articles/2002012212250257611.shtml |title=ВЫБРОСИТ ЛИ ТВ6 ИЗ ЭФИРА И "ЭХО МОСКВЫ" |trans-title=WILL TV6 ALSO THROW ECHO OF MOSCOW OFF THE AIR |language=ru |work=[[:ru:РБК#Формирование медиахолдинга, 1992—2000|"Утренняя газета"]] "Утро.ру" (utro.ru) |date=22 January 2002 |access-date=26 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017104913/http://www.utro.ru/articles/2002012212250257611.shtml |archive-date=17 October 2014}} "Утро.ру" is closely associated with Alexander Nazarov ({{langx|ru|Александр Назаров}}).[https://web.archive.org/web/20180803101757/https://tass.ru/ekonomika/959118 ТАСС Экономика и бизнес (12 февраля 2014), Холдинг РБК продал "Утро.ру" группе частных инвесторов из Сибири: Сумма сделки могла составить 300-370 млн рублей, ТАСС], Alexander Petrakovsky ({{langx|ru|Александр Петраковский}}) associated EDevelopment gained control of "Утро.ру" from RBC in March 2014.[https://web.archive.org/web/20180108144132/https://www.sostav.ru/publication/novym-vladeltsem-utro-ru-stala-edevelopment-8738.html Новым владельцем «Утро.ру» стала EDevelopment: Инвесткомпания выкупила интернет-издание у РБК, sostav.ru, 06 Марта 2014]</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.rol.ru/news/misc/smi/05/05/06_003.htm |title=Леонид Невзлин скупает российские интернет-СМИ |trans-title=Leonid Nevzlin buys up Russian online media |language=ru |work=Golden Telecom (rol.ru) |date=6 May 2005 |access-date=26 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050509044052/https://www.rol.ru/news/misc/smi/05/05/06_003.htm |archive-date=9 May 2005}}</ref>

From 2004 to 2012, [[Vladimir Kara-Murza]] who received strong support from [[Mikhail Khodorkovsky]], directed the Washington bureau of RTVi until Ruslan Sokolov took ownership of RTV which led to Kara-Murza's dismissal.

===2012, 2017, and 2019 ownership changes===
RTVI was owned by a former director of the Russian state TV channel [[Zvezda (TV channel)|Zvezda]] the Russian businessman Ruslan Sokolov ({{langx|ru|Руслан Соколов}}) who bought the channel from Gusinsky in 2012.{{Citation needed|date=August 2025}}

A group of Israeli private investors purchased RTVI International channel in 2017. In June 2017, The channel, which planned to enter the Russian market, was relaunched with the liberal [[Dozhd TV]]'s pink colors in its new logo, new presenters and editors some of which were from Dozhd or from former NTV's independent editorial board.<ref name="Project25122019" /> [[Alexey Pivovarov]], who had worked as a manager at STS and is a strong supporter of the old NTV, headed RTVI International until 2020 when he left RTVi to run his 2019 established YouTube channel.<ref name="Project25122019" /> [[Vasily Brovko]], [[Sergey Chemezov]] and [[Rostec]] also were supporting the relaunch.<ref name="Project25122019" /> In the Spring of 2019, Yulia Moskvitina chaired the board of directors and Tatyana Druzhnyaeva headed RTVI as the executive director.<ref name="Project25122019" />

In October 2019, the Armenia-born American [[Mikayel Israyelyan]] was named the new owner of RTVI.<ref name="Project25122019" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyle/us-businessman-buys-new-york-based-russian-language-broadcaster-rtvi-idUSKBN1YL0WV/ |title=U.S. businessman buys New York-based Russian-language broadcaster RTVI |work=[[Reuters]] |date=17 December 2019 |access-date=26 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/12/17/us-businessman-buys-russian-language-rtvi-broadcaster-a68648 |title=U.S. Businessman Buys Russian-Language RTVI Broadcaster |work=[[The Moscow Times]] |date=17 December 2019 |access-date=26 September 2024}}</ref>

RTVI started broadcasting in [[Mali]] on the [[Malivision]] platform on 8 July 2025.<ref>{{cite news |title=Russian Broadcaster RTVI Starts Airing in Mali |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/07/08/russian-broadcaster-rtvi-starts-airing-in-mali-a89733 |work=The Moscow Times}}</ref>

==Staff==
RTVi's News Director till June 2020 was [[Ekaterina Kotrikadze]]. Russian journalist [[Alexey Pivovarov]] was appointed editor-in-chief in 2016. Pivovarov remained in this position till 25 June 2020.<ref name=Project25122019/><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-06-25 |title=Алексей Пивоваров покидает пост главного редактора RTVI |trans-title=Alexey Pivovarov leaves the post of editor-in-chief of RTVI |url=https://rtvi.com/news/aleksey-pivovarov-pokidaet-post-glavnogo-redaktora-rtvi/ |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=rtvi.com |language=ru}}</ref> On 10 March 2022, the general producer of RTVI [[Sergey Shnurov]] announced the temporary termination of cooperation with RTVI.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-10 |title=Сергей Шнуров временно сложил с себя обязанности генерального продюсера RTVI |trans-title=Sergey Shnurov temporarily resigned from his duties as the general producer of RTVI |url=https://rtvi.com/news/sergey-shnurov-vremenno-slozhil-s-sebya-obyazannosti-generalnogo-prodyusera-rtvi/ |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=rtvi.com |language=ru}}</ref> 

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|RTVI}}
*{{official website}}

{{Television in Russia}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:RTVI| ]]
[[Category:Music for Easter]]
[[Category:Halloween music]]
[[Category:Christmas music]]
[[Category:Television channels in Sweden]]
[[Category:Television channels in Israel]]
[[Category:Television stations in Germany]]
[[Category:Television stations in the United States]]
[[Category:Television companies of Russia]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 2002]]
[[Category:Russian-language television stations]]
[[Category:English-language television stations]]
[[Category:German-language television stations]]
[[Category:Spanish-language television stations]]
[[Category:2002 establishments in Russia]]
[[Category:Vladimir Gusinsky]]