An American-backed Russian language channel has launched in the UK.
Current Time, which broadcasts from Prague, is available on Freeview channel 271 via the Channelbox platform.
The channel was established by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) in cooperation with Voice of America as a means to counter the views of the Kremlin-controlled media.
Current Time was designated as a foreign agent in December 2017, less than one year after its formal launch, and well before the current conflict in Ukraine.
The Ukraina24 news channel went live on Channel Box last month joining news channels that include Euronews, NTD, France24.
“We are very excited to have Current Time on the platform and to expand its distribution in the UK and worldwide. It is more important than ever for Russian speakers to have access to independent media, which is not controlled by the Kremlin,” said Tanya Kronfli, Channelbox Head of content and business development.
“Current Time is happy to welcome its new viewers in the United Kingdom. The partnership with Channelbox is particularly important now as Current Time continues to provide its Russian-speaking audiences worldwide with uncensored news and information about Russia’s war on Ukraine,” said Pavel Butorin, Director, Current Time.
Launched in September 2019, OTT aggregator Channelbox bundles a curated selection of free-to-air channels across multiple genres and languages. Viewers tune to Channel 271 on Freeview which diverts them to the IP-delivered broadcasts.
