CNN goes dark for Russians
January 2, 2015
By Chris Forrester
CNN, as expected, has gone off the air for Russian viewers, effective December 31st. CNN is lacking the correct licences to transmit, according to local reports.
CNN, back in November, confirmed that its local MD had sent letters advising Russian cable, DTT and DTH distributors that it would cease transmissions on December 31st.
Recent changes to Russia’s media laws have seemingly forced CNN’s hand, although Roskomnadzor [the Russian Federal Service for Supervision in Telecommunications, Information Technology and Mass Communications] insists it has had nothing to do with the stopping of broadcasts by CNN International on Russian cable networks, a Roskomnadzor spokesman Vadim Ampelonskiy told TASS in November.
A CNN spokesperson in London, in an earlier statement, said: “Turner International is assessing its distribution options for CNN in Russia in light of recent changes in Russian media legislation. We are bringing our existing distribution relationships to an end while we do that. We hope to re-enter the market in due course, and will notify our partners of any update about resuming these services. The CNN Moscow bureau operation remains unaffected.”