RT DE says it plans to take legal action against Berlin’s media regulator after the German-language channel was ordered to shut down its streaming service.
The simmering row between Berlin and Russia has resulted in the imposition of restrictions on the German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle’s Russian operations.
“We believe that the regulatory authority acted unlawfully with its decision against RT DE Productions GmbH on February 2. The MABB claims that RT DE Productions GmbH is responsible for broadcasting the RT DE channel, blatantly ignoring the fact that the RT DE programme is managed and distributed by Moscow-based TV Novost,” said RT DE in a statement.
“The MABB decision was made without regard to facts and is based on speculation which has not been properly investigated in an administrative procedure.”
RT, the former Russia Today, first began broadcasting RT DE over satellite and via its website last December, saying it had authorisation under a Serbian licence. Satellite transmissions lasted less than a week, at the request of the German authorities, but they continued to be available via smart TV and mobile apps, and online.
