Launched February 2010 Owned by (ANO) TV-Novosti Country United States Founded 2010 | Network RT Slogan Question More Headquarters Washington, D.C. Motto Question More | |
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Picture format 1080i (HDTV)
(HD feed downgraded to letterboxed 480i for SDTVs) Profiles | ||
RT America is a TV channel based in Washington, D.C., and part of the RT network, a global multilingual television news network based in Moscow, Russia. RT is a non-profit organization funded by the Russian government. RT America also has studios and bureaus in New York City, Miami, and Los Angeles. The channel is the home and the production base of RT's U.S. based programs.
Contents
- Current
- Former
- Digital channels
- Criticism and controversy
- Abby Martin statement
- Wahls on air statement
- References
RT America focuses on covering news in the United States from an alternative perspective. Programs are hosted by American journalists. Similarly, most guests are American (and sometimes Canadian) activists, academics, speakers and analysts with alternative perspectives on "mainstream" issues. The channel covers issues that see lesser coverage in the mainstream media, such as using non-GMO ingredients in foods, corporatism, growing wealth inequality, corruption in politics, peace and environmental issues. It maintains a separate schedule of programs each weekday from 4:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time, and like its counterpart in the UK, it simulcasts RT International at all other times.
RT America is the channel for RT content delivery to United States cable and satellite providers. The channel is also available in Canada on the Rogers network (Channel 177). In addition, the channel is also available worldwide online through RT's primary website.
Current
Former
Current
Former
Digital channels
The station's digital channel is multiplexed :
Criticism and controversy
On June 13, 2013 RT previewed Larry King's new Thursday evening political talk show Politicking with Larry King with a discussion of Edward Snowden's leaking of the PRISM surveillance program.
Abby Martin statement
On March 4, 2014, Breaking The Set host Abby Martin (whose show is produced by RT America), speaking directly to her viewing audience during the show's closing statement, said that even though she works for RT, she is against Russia's intervention in Ukraine. She said that "what Russia did is wrong", as she is against intervention by any nation into other countries' affairs. Later, Martin asserted that RT still supports her despite her differences of opinion with the Russian government. RTs press office suggested that Martin would be sent to Crimea and responded to accusations of propaganda, stating "the charges of propaganda tend to pop up every time a news outlet, particularly RT, dares to show the side of events that does not fit the mainstream narrative, regardless of the realities on the ground. This happened in Georgia, this is happening in Ukraine".
Glenn Greenwald claimed that American media elites love to mock Russian media, especially RT, as being a source of shameless pro-Putin propaganda, where free expression is strictly barred. Agreeing the "network has a strong pro-Russian bias", he suggested that Martin's action "remarkably demonstrated what 'journalistic independence' means".
Wahl's on-air statement
On March 5, 2014, RT America anchor Liz Wahl resigned on air, claiming RT was a propaganda machine for Vladimir Putin. A recording of the event quickly went viral and made her famous for the following statement,
"I cannot be part of a network funded by the Russian government that whitewashes the actions of Putin. I am proud to be an American and believe in disseminating the truth. And that is why, after this newscast, I am resigning."
In a March 2014 Politico article, Wahl expanded on that statement, saying, "For about two and a half years. I’d looked the other way as the network smeared America for the sake of making the Kremlin look better by comparison, while it sugarcoated atrocities by one brutal dictator after another."