Russia may soon see the launch of a public channel based on the current Channel One, the country’s leading broadcaster.
However, as RBC points out, a number of reports about such a service have been denied, not least by Channel One itself.
It has been said that this public channel would be 50% plus one share owned by the Public Chamber of Russia and National Association of TV Broadcasters, with the remainder being held by the state.
Opinion on the prospects – and indeed need – for such a channel appears to be split in Russia.