TV6 (Russia)
Encyclopedia
TV-6 was a one of the first commercial television stations in Russia. It began broadcasting in 1993, and was closed on 22 January 2002. Its frequency has eventually passed to Sport TV
.
and VID company
. It started broadcasting on 1 January 1993. Until 1994 TV-6 shared time with a minor channel "North Crown" (Северная корона), which was closed a year later.
It was originally an entertainment channel which broadcast talk shows, cartoons, music and series. TV 6 was the first in Russia to air foreign sci-fi series such as Babylon 5
, Lexx
, First Wave, as well as sitcoms Grace Under Fire and 3rd Rock from the Sun
. Until 1999 TV-6 aired no news.
In 1999, 75% of TV6's stock was sold to media oligarch Boris Berezovsky. Channel's policies gradually changed from entertainment to political journalism
. In April 2001, after NTV channel
was bought by the government gas monopoly Gazprom
, several prominent NTV journalists and other employees left it to join to TV-6 staff.
in May 2001 started the court battle over bankruptcy which the station lost on January 11, 2002, and was put into liquidation unanimously by 14 judges sitting in the supreme arbitration court, overturning a December 29, 2001 lower appeal court decision reviving the channel and ordering a new hearing of the bankruptcy application. Two lower arbitration courts had decided against the network last in the fall of 2001.
An arm of the partly state owned oil company Lukoil
, which owns 15% of TV-6, filed the bankruptcy proceedings in 2001. Lukoil used a law that grants shareholders the right to dissolve a company if its net worth falls below a certain level for two years. TV6 stated that its net worth plunged in 1998 but rebounded last year, when the lawsuit was filed, and in 2002 exceeded the legal level. Under a new law which came into force on January 1, 2002, a minority shareholder such as Lukoil can no longer apply for a company to be declared bankrupt. But Lukoil argued that its appeal against the appellate court was valid because the ruling was granted three days before the law came into effect.
The electricity was shut off just after midnight, Tuesday, 22 January 2002, in the middle of "Nightingale's Night" program, while a presenter was singing folk ballads with his guest. Within hours of TV6's closure, the station's frequency was allotted to an all-sports station which promised of live coverage of the 2002 Winter Olympics.
The staff of the station got a license for a new station, TVS, but because of financial difficulties, this station was also shut down in June 2003.
responded by stating:
"There's a strong appearance of political pressure in the judicial process against the independent media. Press freedom and the rule of law can be best served by keeping TV-6 on the air."
RTR Sport
Russia 2 is a Russian television channel operated by VGTRK. It primarily broadcasts sports translations.Before 2010 it was known as Sport TV, but since then it was re-branded due to broadened format.-External links:*...
.
History
The channel was founded in 1992, by the holding of Eduard Sagalaev, Ted TurnerTed Turner
Robert Edward "Ted" Turner III is an American media mogul and philanthropist. As a businessman, he is known as founder of the cable news network CNN, the first dedicated 24-hour cable news channel. In addition, he founded WTBS, which pioneered the superstation concept in cable television...
and VID company
VID (TV Company)
VID is a TV production company in Russia, started by Vladislav Listyev since 1990. It is best known for producing the television programmes Wait for Me, designed to help people find loved ones and Pole Chudes which is a popular Russian version of Wheel of Fortune.VID is known both for its logo,...
. It started broadcasting on 1 January 1993. Until 1994 TV-6 shared time with a minor channel "North Crown" (Северная корона), which was closed a year later.
It was originally an entertainment channel which broadcast talk shows, cartoons, music and series. TV 6 was the first in Russia to air foreign sci-fi series such as Babylon 5
Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
, Lexx
Lexx
Lexx is a science fantasy television series that follows the adventures of a group of mismatched individuals aboard the organic space craft Lexx. They travel through two universes and encounter planets including a parody of the Earth....
, First Wave, as well as sitcoms Grace Under Fire and 3rd Rock from the Sun
3rd Rock from the Sun
3rd Rock from the Sun is an American sitcom that aired from 1996 to 2001 on NBC. The show is about four extraterrestrials who are on an expedition to Earth, which they consider to be a very insignificant planet...
. Until 1999 TV-6 aired no news.
In 1999, 75% of TV6's stock was sold to media oligarch Boris Berezovsky. Channel's policies gradually changed from entertainment to political journalism
Political journalism
Political journalism is a broad branch of journalism that includes coverage of all aspects of politics and political science, although the term usually refers specifically to coverage of civil governments and political power....
. In April 2001, after NTV channel
NTV Russia
NTV is a Russian television channel. As a subsidiary of Vladimir Gusinsky's company Media-Most, it was a pioneer in the post-Soviet independent television media, but was later taken over by state-owned Gazprom.- History :...
was bought by the government gas monopoly Gazprom
Gazprom
Open Joint Stock Company Gazprom is the largest extractor of natural gas in the world and the largest Russian company. Its headquarters are in Cheryomushki District, South-Western Administrative Okrug, Moscow...
, several prominent NTV journalists and other employees left it to join to TV-6 staff.
Closure
After the change of staff LukoilLUKoil
Lukoil/LUKoil ; ) is Russia's second largest oil company and its second largest producer of oil. In 2009, the company produced 97.615 million tons of oil; ....
in May 2001 started the court battle over bankruptcy which the station lost on January 11, 2002, and was put into liquidation unanimously by 14 judges sitting in the supreme arbitration court, overturning a December 29, 2001 lower appeal court decision reviving the channel and ordering a new hearing of the bankruptcy application. Two lower arbitration courts had decided against the network last in the fall of 2001.
An arm of the partly state owned oil company Lukoil
LUKoil
Lukoil/LUKoil ; ) is Russia's second largest oil company and its second largest producer of oil. In 2009, the company produced 97.615 million tons of oil; ....
, which owns 15% of TV-6, filed the bankruptcy proceedings in 2001. Lukoil used a law that grants shareholders the right to dissolve a company if its net worth falls below a certain level for two years. TV6 stated that its net worth plunged in 1998 but rebounded last year, when the lawsuit was filed, and in 2002 exceeded the legal level. Under a new law which came into force on January 1, 2002, a minority shareholder such as Lukoil can no longer apply for a company to be declared bankrupt. But Lukoil argued that its appeal against the appellate court was valid because the ruling was granted three days before the law came into effect.
The electricity was shut off just after midnight, Tuesday, 22 January 2002, in the middle of "Nightingale's Night" program, while a presenter was singing folk ballads with his guest. Within hours of TV6's closure, the station's frequency was allotted to an all-sports station which promised of live coverage of the 2002 Winter Olympics.
The staff of the station got a license for a new station, TVS, but because of financial difficulties, this station was also shut down in June 2003.
Views on closure
Some of both Russian and international critics viewed TV-6 closure to be organized by Russian government, due to Berezovsky's opposition to Vladimir Putin, and thus violating the freedom of speech. US state department representative Richard BoucherRichard Boucher
Richard A. Boucher is Deputy Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development . He took up post on 5 November 2009. Prior to joining OECD, he was the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, a post he took up on February 21, 2006...
responded by stating:
"There's a strong appearance of political pressure in the judicial process against the independent media. Press freedom and the rule of law can be best served by keeping TV-6 on the air."