Russia/Satellite TV/Religious-themed channel

RFL/RL Newsline

"A ' public Orthodox television channel' called Spas (Savior) will begin broadcasting on 28 July as part of the NTV-Plus basic satellite package, gazeta.ru reported on 25 July. Approximately 40 percent of the programming will have a Russian Orthodox theme, according to the
network's press service."

"Several prominent figures will host shows on Spas: Duma Foreign Relations Committee Deputy Chairwoman Natalya Narochnitskaya (Motherland); Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad
Kirill, who heads external relations for the Russian Orthodox Church's Moscow Patriarchate; and Eurasia Party leader Aleksandr Dugin, an anti-American geopolitics theorist."

"Meanwhile, RBK reported on 25 July that Culture and Mass Communications Minister Aleksandr Sokolov recently called for a new state television network that would emphasize Orthodox programming. Sokolov suggested that the network would be part of the All-Russian State Television and Radio Company (VGTRK) and could be launched in 2007."

"So far no funds have been allocated for the project. According to RBK, sources at VGTRK are
unaware of any plans for such a network. RTR, which is part of VGTRK, already broadcasts some shows with Orthodox themes, as well as a program aimed at Muslim viewers."