RT UK
RT UK is a TV channel based in London. It is part of the RT network, a global multilingual television news network based in Moscow and subsidised by the Russian government. The channel was launched on 30 October 2014.
RT UK focuses on covering the United Kingdom. RT UK positions itself as an outsider with a mission to oppose what it portrays as a pro-war, pro-Western media orthodoxy in the UK. The Russian news agency seeks to fashion an identity as alternative media as opposed to BBC News and Sky News. The channel claims its position is "to challenge dominant power structures in Britain by broadcasting live and original programming with a progressive UK focus", "not subject to the metropolitan elite's London bias".
The launch of RT UK was greeted with a barrage of criticism in the British press. In The Observer, Nick Cohen accused the channel of spreading conspiracy theories and being a "prostitution of journalism" and in The Times, Oliver Kamm called on broadcasting regulator Ofcom to act against this "den of deceivers".Richard Sambrook, director of the Centre of Journalism at Cardiff University was quoted as saying "It's a surprising move to focus resources on the UK. It's not a commercial proposition, therefore the main purpose must be to gain influence. It's about soft power for the Kremlin". In a pre-launch statement, RT correspondent Polly Boiko said "So much is made of how RT is funded. It’s been cast as the Big Bad Wolf of the news media landscape," and "I think many of us... see the launch of RT UK as an opportunity to shake off the accusations levelled at the channel"