Advanced Television

Embattled Russian TV telethon to stay on air

March 26, 2014

By Chris Forrester

Moscow-based Dozhd TV which is under threat to closure because of shortage of cash has launched a fund-raising TV telethon, “’Days of Independence: marathon in support of Dozhd’ to raise money for its continued existence, reports BBC Monitoring which quotes Russia’s Interfax news agency.

The Marathon will run all this week until March 30th, and the station says special guests will be appearing to discuss freedom of speech and the role of independent media in Russia.

“Every day we tell you about what is actually happening then and there. We work to let our viewers enjoy live news, live broadcast, views and opinions of our anchors and journalists in the same way as we enjoy our work. All together we try to change life for the better. It is in your powers to let it continue. We do not want to be dependent on anyone, apart from our viewers. If you like what we do, if you believe in us as much as we believe in you, Dozhd TV will not disappear,” Dozhd TV team said in a statement published on the channel’s website.

According to Interfax, Dozhd TV lost about 80 per cent of its revenues after a number of major Russian satellite and cable operators took the channel off air in January following a controversial poll about the siege of Leningrad in World War II.

Dozhd TV has also allowed live access to Internet users.

Categories: Articles, Broadcast, Funding