Zvezda (TV channel)


Zvezda is a Russian state-owned nationwide TV network run by the Russian Ministry of Defence. As of January 2008, Zvezda's CEO was Grigory Krichevsky, previously known for his work on Vladimir Gusinsky's NTV Channel in the late 1990s.

History

In 1998 Central Television and Radio Studio of the Russian Ministry of Defense wins the tender to broadcast the channel in the competition. On July 17, 2000 Zvezda channel is a licensed for broadcasting. On September 2001 broadcasting had yet started, while received a warning from the Ministry of Communications and Mass Media for a two-week period of correction.
On February 20, 2005 Zvezda channel first began broadcasting on 57th UHF channel in Moscow. Feature of the channel is to show programs on patriotic themes: information and analytical programs, as well as Russian movies. On the first day of broadcasting channel aired a documentary about firefighters, to May 16, 2005 broadcast was limited to the evening. On May 16, 2005 the channel goes to broadcast around the clock. In 2006 Zvezda is for the first time broadcasting in all of Russia. 2007 channel audience grew further, as it was included in the package of NTV+. Since 2009 Zvezda is a federal status channel. On 14 December 2012 the channel entered into the second digital television multiplex. In this case, the channel had only one position for the competition.
In March 2015, Zvezda offered a presenting job to Jeremy Clarkson less than 24 hours after he was dismissed by the BBC from motoring programme Top Gear.

Controversies

"Zvezda" describes itself as "patriotic" and is considered one of the most sensational and anti-Western news channels in Russia. It has a reputation for publishing biased news stories which favor the Russian government. It has published several controversial news articles in the past, for example:
During the 2008 pre-election debates on the Zvezda TV Vladimir Zhirinovsky insulted Andrei Bogdanov's campaign manager and ordered his bodyguards to "take him away and shoot him".