Television remains the main news source for most Russians and the core of the Kremlin’s domestic information control. The federal channels Channel One and Rossiya-1 (part of the state holding VGTRK) carry the government line, while Gazprom-Media, owned by the state gas company’s financial arm, controls NTV, which it took over in 2001 after forcing out Vladimir Gusinsky’s Media-Most, along with entertainment channels including TNT, TV-3, Pyatnitsa!, 2×2, and the sports network Match TV. Abroad, RT (founded in 2005 as Russia Today) is the state’s principal international broadcaster. This section profiles individual channels and their role in propaganda and influence operations.
