The Russian parliament recommended the formation of public TV based on one of the state-financed channels, RIA Novosti reports.
It needs to have the status of an all-Russian broadcaster throughout the country. The channel will have no advertisements or entertainment content, the recommendations say.
One of the channel’s objectives is organization of public discussions about the most topical aspects of life. It will offer informative, analytical, socio-political, cultural and educational content and should meet the interests of the majority of the population. The channel will have independent financing.
The channel will be available for the population and will be free at paid TV channels.
Formation of the public television was initiated by Russian President Dmitri Medvedev at the Federal Assembly in December 2011.
Daniil Dondurey, a member of the presidential council, presented a concept of the channel. A working group formed with the Ministry for Communications presented its ideas. Medvedev gave it one more month to resolve all the financial, managerial and organizational issues. The channel is expected to be launched this year.
