Leader of the News Opposition Pack RTVI Breaks Into Russian Market

Long a U.S.-based stronghold of Russian free thought, political dissent, and independent news coverage, RTVI, an American privately funded Russian language TV network, is opening a studio in Moscow, all part of network’s international re-launch. The network, founded in 2000 in New York by Vladimir Gusinsky, one of the first Russian oligarchs to fall out with the Russian leadership, has been under new management since 2016. Led by Alexei Pivovarov, RTVI’s new executive producer, the station is building on its already mammoth reputation by expanding into international original programming and by sprucing up its programming library. The epitome of the change and the flagship of the multi-million dollar makeover (new shows, new staff, new studio, new CEO) is a live TV bridge political talk show Here

and There, totally in line with RTVI’s new slogan “On Both Sides.” “RTVI’s mission is to engage Russian-speaking audiences worldwide into a constructive dialogue that could spur on development of new ideas and have measurable real life impact,” said Pivovarov.

Here and There is an excellent example, where power brokers from U.S. will get a chance to speak directly with power brokers from Russia, a DIY diplomacy, if you will.” The show will link guests at RTVI’s brand new studios in Washington D.C. and in Moscow. A daily public affairs program positioned as an alternative to Wolf (CNN) and

All Things Considered (PBS) here in the U.S., and Vesti and 60 Minutes (both by Russian State TV and Radio Corp.) over in Russia, the show will examine three hot button issues a day, with the makers of the news, often prevented by politics and logistics from talking to each other, invited as debate participants. “Our goal is to make sure that Russian and American newsmakers don’t just talk at each other, but start to listen and engage,” said Tikhon Dzyadko, RTVI editor and Here and There U.S. host. “Now more than ever independent Russian journalism is called upon to perform a public service, making the world a better place and hopefully helping to prevent another Cuban missile crisis-type breakdown in communications.” The first broadcast of the new RTVi is on June 12, on Optimum channel 355.