by Mickkie Hjorth , published in The International Journal of Press/Politics (2002).
If you are looking for a paper that explains a modern state takes control of the media without resorting to brute force (like simply pulling the plug), this is the perfect case study. It illustrates a sophisticated, legalistic method of censorship that laid the groundwork for the Russian information environment we see today. tv6 russian channel
The definitive paper on this subject is: by Mickkie Hjorth , published in The International
MOSCOW - Russia abruptly pulled the plug on its only nationwide independent television station on Tuesday, giving the Kremlin a mo... За мир и свободу! Show all Legal Pretext: The liquidation was ordered based on a law that allowed the closure of a company if its net assets fell below the minimum charter capital for two years—a law that was ironically repealed shortly before the final verdict. CNN Political Context: Critics and international observers characterized the shutdown as a move by the Putin administration to silence the last major independent national broadcaster. За мир и свободу! +1 Final Moments: At midnight on January 22, 2002, the signal was abruptly cut mid-broadcast, replaced by a test pattern and the message "We have been pulled off the air". За мир и свободу! +1 Aftermath and Legacy Immediate Replacement: The frequency was initially filled by The definitive paper on this subject is: MOSCOW
TV6's legacy can be seen in the many television channels that followed in its footsteps. The channel's innovative approach to programming, its focus on entertainment and culture, and its commitment to objective news coverage raised the bar for Russian television, and paved the way for future generations of television channels.
The paper explores the fascinating paradox of TV-6. It was owned by Boris Berezovsky—an oligarch and a political rival of Vladimir Putin. The state argued that shutting down the channel was a legitimate business decision because the station was financially insolvent. However, the paper dissects how this "business decision" was a thin veneer for political censorship. It highlights the struggle of the journalists (led by Yevgeny Kiselyov) who tried to maintain editorial independence even while working for an oligarch.
