TVS (Russia)

TVS (ТВС) was a Russian television channel. Originally known as TV-6, it was the last privately owned, nationwide television channel in Russia before its closure in 2002.

History

TV-6 was founded in 1993 by Grigory Krichevsky and Mikhail Aldashin, initially broadcasting mostly animated films. It was later acquired by Boris Berezovsky's Media-Most group. Known for its independent and often critical reporting, particularly during the presidency of Vladimir Putin, TV-6 became a target of government pressure.

Following the controversial ousting of NTV (another Media-Most channel) from its airwaves in 2001, the government initiated legal proceedings against TV-6, citing financial irregularities. A Moscow arbitration court ruled to liquidate the channel in January 2002.

Closure and Replacement

The Russian Press Ministry revoked TV-6's broadcasting license in January 2002. Despite appeals and protests, the channel ceased broadcasting on January 22, 2002. It was replaced by a new state-controlled channel, Sportivny Kanal (later rebranded as Russia-2), marking a significant shift in the Russian media landscape towards increased state control.

Significance

The closure of TV-6 is widely regarded as a pivotal moment in the erosion of media freedom in Russia. It demonstrated the government's willingness to use legal and administrative means to silence independent voices and consolidate control over the media.