Rusiya Al-Yaum, the first Russian TV channel in Arabic and a new window to modern Russia for the Arab world, celebrated 100 days on air at its official Middle East launch yesterday.
Speaking to journalists in Cairo, Sergey Frolov, Director General of parent company ANO TV-Novosti, said the 20-hour news and current affairs satellite channel will address Russian, international and Middle East news events with a perspective that is sensitive to the region’s culture.
Frolov said: “There has been a need for this channel for a long time. The integration of mass media has grown to become a global trend and Russia is involved in the process as well. Russia enjoys strong economic and cultural relations with Arab countries, and this is an opportunity to explain how Russia understands international developments and to share the views of its people.”
Rusiya Al-Yaum is already 100 days old and the response from viewers has been overwhelmingly positive since it went on air in May, according to the channel’s management team.
Yesterday’s Middle East launch in Cairo welcomed His Excellency Mikhail Bogdanov, the ambassador of the Russian Federation to Egypt, and senior channel officials based in Egypt and Moscow.
Mikhail Piotrovsky, Director of The State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg and host of an exclusive documentary series on Rusiya Al-Yaum, also attended the press launch. An evening reception was held for government and corporate VIPs as well as prominent public and cultural figures in Egypt.
Planning for an Arabic-language Russian TV station began in February 2006 following the success of Russia Today, launched in December 2005, which broadcasts in English. Rusiya Al-Yaum has more than 500 staff, around 100 of whom are drawn from across North Africa and the Middle East. The channel’s experienced editorial team include journalists working on the ground in Lebanon, Palestine and the Occupied Territories, Iraq, Egypt, France, Britain and the United States.
Ruisya Al-Yaum broadcasts from Moscow with three production studios and a virtual studio. The channel’s satellite coverage reaches a potential audience of 350 million in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, and the programmes are also available online.
Rusiya Al-Yaum’s editorial policy is impartial and aims to objectively present Russia’s role in global, regional and domestic affairs with a focus on Russian-Arab relations. The channel’s schedule covers breaking news and business as well as original programming spanning documentaries, special features and exclusive interviews.
Rusiya Al-Yaum enjoys content sharing agreements with leading international and Arab news providers, and contributions from respected broadcasters and public personalities with expertise in Arab affairs.
Sergey Frolov of ANO TV-Novosti said: “The main objective of Rusiya Al-Yaum is to establish an ongoing dialogue with Arab communities and improve the perception of Russia in the Arab world. We were pleased to learn that many people were waiting for Rusiya Al-Yaum to launch its broadcasts, and we have received a lot of positive feedback that is helping us shape future programming. Thanks to the suggestions of our viewers, we are already producing more original content and extending our network of professional reporters.”
About Rusiya Al-Yaum TV
On air since May 2007, Rusiya Al-Yaum is a Russian, non-governmental satellite news channel broadcasting 20 hours a day, seven days a week, from 3:00 GMT to 23:00 GMT, on the «BADR 4», «NILESAT 103» and «HOT BIRD 6» satellite frequencies. Rusiya Al-Yaum can also be viewed free online at www.rtarabic.com
Rusiya Al-Yaum programmes
News
Russian, international and Middle East news headlines with breaking stories from Rusiya Al-Yaum reporters in the field. The main news bulletins are carried on the hour followed by regular updates, special features and interviews with guest speakers and experts.
Economy
The latest news and comment on the Russian economy and financial markets with features on leading Russian companies and in-depth reports on industry sectors. Broadcast every two hours, Rusiya Al-Yaum’s economic coverage also reviews diplomatic visits between Russia and the CIS and the Arab world.
Sport
Five-minute sport reports every hour follow the progress of Russian athletes and teams at major international events and carry the latest football news and scores from the Russian Premier League. Viewers can also stay up-to-date with preparations for the Sochi-2014 Olympics.
Culture
A six-minute round-up shown every fours hours of prominent exhibitions, festivals, and Russian and Arab cultural events.
Press review
A look at how the Russian and international press are interpreting the major news events of the day.
Weekly review
Shown every Friday (21:30 GMT) and repeated on Saturdays, Rusiya Al-Yaum’s weekly review digests the headlines of the previous seven days and shares the insights of experts and reporters in the field. Topics for discussion range from hard-hitting political and current affairs news to more light-hearted stories from around the world.
Panorama
Panorama explores the lives of some of the most influential people in modern Russian society, from politicians to academics, to military figures and top sports personalities. Broadcast five times a week on weekdays and repeated on Saturdays and Sundays, the programme mixes reports with panel discussions.
Personal
Half-hour interviews with extraordinary personalities from all walks of life aired at a prime-time slot every Friday.
Zoom
Zoom is a weekly report on global news events touching the broadest range of political, social and cultural issues in Russia, the Middle East and around the world. A 15-minute feature, it is based on archived research, original interviews and the author’s own perspectives.
Documentaries
Rusiya Al-Yaum’s growing body of highly original programming includes a wide range of stimulating documentaries, among them Oriental Mysteries of the Hermitage presented by the museum’s director, the renown Orientalist and fluent Arabic speaker Mikhail Piotrovsky. Piotrovsky delves into the museum’s vaults to explore priceless artefacts acquired from the Arab world. The documentary focuses on the 10 most impressive collections of one of Russia’s most famous museums, tracing the dynasties of Russian monarchs from Peter the Great to Emperor Nicholas II.
Other documentaries on Rusiya Al-Yaum include Brands of Moscow, presented by the well-known Arab journalist Ali Al-Arab; special features on Islam in Russia including an examination of Arab influence in the Caucasus; a weekly review of the latest military technology and famous battles in history; biopics on famous Russian artists, musicians and literary figures; and the political historical series The Great Confrontation, which recounts episodes from the Cold War.
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