RT UK

RT UK was launched on 30 October 2014 and closed for TV broadcasting on 30 July 2021. The channel's coverage focused on the United Kingdom. RT presenter Afshin Rattansi stated that the channel's position was "to challenge dominant power structures in Britain by broadcasting live and original programming with a progressive UK focus", and it was "not subject to the metropolitan elite's London bias" since its "news will come from right across the country".{{cite web|url=http://rt.com/uk/200411-rt-uk-channel-launch/|title=RT launches dedicated UK news channel |website=RT UK (rt.com) |access-date=21 March 2021}}

Richard Sambrook, former director of global news at the BBC and director of the Centre of Journalism at Cardiff University was quoted as saying "It's a surprising move to focus resources on the UK. It's not a commercial proposition, therefore the main purpose must be to gain influence. It's about soft power for the Kremlin".{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/nov/02/russia-today-launch-uk-version-investigations-ofcom|title=Russia Today launches UK version in new soft power onslaught|author=Chris Johnston|work=The Guardian |date=2 November 2014|access-date=21 March 2021}} In a pre-launch statement, RT correspondent Polly Boiko said "So much is made of how RT is funded. It's been cast as the Big Bad Wolf of the news media landscape," and "I think many of us... see the launch of RT UK as an opportunity to shake off the accusations levelled at the channel".{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/britain-russia-tvchannel-idINKBN0IJ2MR20141030 |title=Kremlin-funded broadcaster lauded by Putin starts TV news channel in UK |last=Osborn |first=Andrew |date=30 October 2014 |work=Reuters UK |access-date=4 August 2020}}

Ahead of the launch of its UK-specific broadcasts in 2014, RT said that its advertisements promoting the channel had been rejected by ad agencies because it was felt they would violate UK laws on political advertising. The network posted versions of the adverts on billboards and its website with the word "redacted" on them in protest. The UK Advertising Standards Authority said it had not banned the ads or even received any complaint about them.{{cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/patricksmith/everything-you-need-to-know-about-russia-today-uk#.yyXB4pAK|date=14 November 2014 |title=Everything You Need To Know About Russia Today UK |author=Patrick Smith |work=BuzzFeed |access-date=21 March 2021}}

The UK broadcast regulator Ofcom has repeatedly reprimanded the international version of RT for its failure to remain impartial. In July 2014, London-based RT International correspondent Sara Firth resigned, after five years with the channel, calling its coverage of the MH17 disaster, the "straw that broke the camel's back".{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/jul/18/mh17-russia-today-reporter-resigns-sara-firth-kremlin-malaysia|title=Russia Today reporter resigns in protest at MH17 coverage|last=Plunkett |first=John |date=18 July 2014|work=The Guardian |access-date=22 February 2015}} Shortly after RT UK was launched, Ofcom said sanctions would be imposed if further breaches of the broadcasting code occurred.{{cite news|last=Ennis|first=Stephen|title=Russia's global media operation under the spotlight|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30040363|work=BBC News|date=16 November 2014 |access-date=21 March 2021}}

In September 2015, Ofcom found RT in breach of the impartiality rules in its coverage of events in Ukraine and Syria. It also upheld the complaint by the BBC that allegations made in an episode of The Truthseeker that a BBC Panorama film, Saving Syria's Children, had faked parts of a report on a chemical weapon attack in Syria were "materially misleading".{{cite news |title=UK regulator Ofcom backs BBC in Russian TV case |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-34316047 |work=BBC News |date=21 September 2015 |access-date=23 January 2016}}{{cite news |title=Ofcom Broadcast Bulletin |url=http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/enforcement/broadcast-bulletins/obb288/Issue_288.pdf |issue=288 |publisher=Ofcom |date=21 September 2015 |access-date=23 January 2016}}{{cite news| last=Burrell | first=Ian | title=Broadcaster RT misled viewers and breached broadcasting rules, says Ofcom | website=The Independent | date=21 September 2015 | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/rt-breached-broadcasting-rules-over-claims-bbc-faked-pictures-of-syrian-chemical-attack-says-ofcom-10511515.html | access-date=27 November 2018}} Another episode of The Truthseeker, named "Genocide of Eastern Ukraine", stated that the Ukrainian government was deliberately bombing civilians, had murdered and tortured journalists, and had crucified babies. Ukrainian army forces were accused of "ethnic cleansing" and were compared to Nazis during World War Two. The only response to these allegations shown in the broadcast was a caption reading, "Kiev claims it is not committing genocide, denies casualty reports", which appeared on screen for six seconds. According to Ofcom, the broadcast had "little or no counterbalance or objectivity". A spokesperson for the media regulator said "Ofcom found that RT broadcast content that was either materially misleading or not duly impartial. These are significant failings and we are therefore requiring RT to broadcast two clear statements on our decision which correct these failures".{{cite news|last=Jackson|first=Jasper|title=RT sanctioned by Ofcom over series of misleading and biased articles |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/sep/21/rt-sanctioned-over-series-of-misleading-articles-by-media-watchdog |date=21 September 2015 |work=The Guardian |access-date=23 January 2016}}

In December 2018, Ofcom ruled that seven programmes broadcast by RT between 17 March and 26 April of that year, in the wake of the Salisbury nerve agent attacks, had breached the UK's impartiality rules. The BBC reported that RT was "extremely disappointed by Ofcom's conclusions".{{cite web | title= Russian news channel RT broke TV impartiality rules, Ofcom says|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-46633082 | author=|date= 20 December 2018| website= BBC News Online | access-date= 20 December 2018}}{{cite news |title=Ofcom Broadcast and On Demand Bulletin |url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/131159/Issue-369-Broadcast-and-On-Demand-Bulletin.pdf |issue=369 |publisher=Ofcom |date=20 December 2018 |access-date=8 June 2019}} RT was fined £200,000 but kept its licence to broadcast in the UK.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/jul/26/rt-fined-breaching-impartiality-rules-ofcom |title=RT fined £200,000 for breaching impartiality rules |first= Jim |last=Waterson |authorlink=Jim Waterson |date=26 July 2019 |work=The Guardian |access-date=21 March 2021}}

In October 2016, RT published a letter sent to "Russia Today TV UK Ltd" by NatWest bank informing the company that it intended to cease the banking facilities provided to the company.{{cite news|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37697474|title=RT: NatWest denies shutting accounts of Russian TV channel|publisher=BBC News|date=18 October 2016|access-date=18 October 2016}}{{cite news|last=Rothwell|first=James|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/18/natwest-backs-down-over-threat-to-freeze-russia-todays-bank-acco/|title=NatWest backs down over threat to freeze Russia Today's bank account|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=18 October 2016|access-date=18 October 2016}} RT's editor in Moscow, Margarita Simonyan, tweeted in Russian "They closed our accounts in Britain. All of them. 'Decision not to be discussed'. Long live freedom of speech!" Russian MPs, the foreign ministry, and human rights officials condemned the move.{{cite news|last1=Harding|first1=Luke|last2=Walker|first2=Shaun|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/17/russia-todays-uk-bank-accounts-frozen-says-editor|title=Russia Today's UK bank accounts closed down, says editor|work=The Guardian|date=17 October 2016|access-date=17 October 2016}}

The Russian embassy in London described the move as an "openly political decision". The British government, which owned the majority of shares in the group since the 2008 financial crisis, denied responsibility for the bank's actions. NatWest subsequently said that it had written to one of RT's suppliers, not to the station itself, and that it would review the decision. RT said the supplier provided all RT services in the UK.

The decision by NatWest to end banking services was reversed in late January 2017.{{cite news|last=Jackson|first=Jasper|date=30 January 2017|title=NatWest reverses decision to close RT's bank accounts in UK|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/jan/30/natwest-reverses-decision-close-rt-russia-today-bank-accounts-uk|access-date=30 January 2017}}

Oliver Kamm wrote in The Times in October 2016: "For purportedly expert analysis of world events, RT turns to an assortment of racists, neo-Nazis, UFO buffs, 9/11 conspiracy theorists and obscure fantasists. Admittedly it's also been commended for balance and fairness – by the British National Party".{{cite news|last=Kamm|first=Oliver|authorlink=Oliver Kamm|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/comment/its-time-we-turned-the-heat-up-on-putins-lie-machine-p8hpp36kl|title=It's time we turned the heat up on Putin's lie machine|work=The Times|location=London|date=18 October 2016|access-date=18 October 2016}} He continued: "This is not a normal news outlet but a conspiracy of fraudsters in the service of a murderous autocracy". In The Observer, Nick Cohen wrote in November 2014 that the channel "feeds the huge western audience that wants to believe that human rights are a sham and democracy a fix. Believe that and you will ask: what right have we to criticise Putin? At least he is honest in his way".{{cite news|last=Cohen|first=Nick|authorlink=Nick Cohen|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/nov/08/russia-today-western-cynics-lap-up-putins-tv-poison|title=Russia Today: why western cynics lap up Putin's TV poison|work=The Observer|location=London|date=8 November 2014|access-date=24 January 2016}}

In late February 2022, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a number of British journalists based in RT's offices in Moscow and at RT UK's offices in London resigned from the network in response to its coverage of the incident.{{cite news |last1=Gilbody-Dickerson |first1=Claire |title=Russia Today hit by resignation of several UK-based journalists within hours of Putin's invasion of Ukraine |url=https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/russia-today-hit-by-resignation-of-several-uk-based-journalists-within-hours-of-putin-s-invasion-of-ukraine/ar-AAUlp4e |access-date=1 March 2022 |work=i |date=27 February 2022}} Former First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond suspended his RT talk show, The Alex Salmond Show, on 24 February after receiving public criticism following the invasion.{{cite web |title=Alex Salmond suspends RT show over Ukraine invasion |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-60508620 |website=BBC News |access-date=25 February 2022 |date=24 February 2022}} According to The Times, four journalists "publicly announced their resignation, while others are said to have quietly left RT's London bureau".{{cite news |last1=Kanter |first1=Jake |title=YouTube blocks RT channels in Britain and Europe |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/banning-rt-could-lead-to-retaliation-against-bbc-liz-truss-warns-xx0w5rj2m |access-date=1 March 2022 |work=The Times |url-access=subscription |date=1 March 2022}} YouTube banned access to all RT and Sputnik channels on the platform from Europe and Britain.{{efn|Although videos and channels may appear in search results, the videos are unwatchable, with UK users given the message: "This channel is not available in your country".}}

On 2 March 2022, RT UK's SD Freeview channel 234 went off the air in the afternoon, with RT HD on Freeview channel 113 following an hour later at about 4:45pm. Both channels were replaced by a placeholder message saying that the service was unavailable.{{Cite web|url=https://rxtvinfo.com/2022/rt-becomes-unavailable-on-freeview|title=RT becomes "unavailable" on Freeview|date=2 March 2022}} On the same day, Sky removed channel 511, which hosted RT, due to the ongoing situation in Ukraine.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/mar/01/russian-backed-rt-channel-to-lose-sky-tv-slot-in-uk-within-24-hours|title=Russian-backed RT channel to lose Sky TV slot in UK within 24 hours|website=TheGuardian.com |date=1 March 2022}}{{cite news |last1=O'Carroll |first1=Lisa |last2=Waterson |first2=Jim |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/mar/01/russian-backed-rt-channel-to-lose-sky-tv-slot-in-uk-within-24-hours |title=Russian-backed RT channel to lose Sky TV slot in UK within 24 hours |work=The Guardian |date=1 March 2022 |access-date=16 March 2022}}

In 2022, following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, Ofcom looked into whether RT had breached impartiality rules regarding its coverage of the conflict.{{cite news |title=UK regulator investigates Russian channel RT over Ukraine coverage |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/uk-regulator-investigates-russian-channel-rt-over-ukraine-coverage-2022-02-28/ |access-date=1 March 2022 |work=Reuters |date=28 February 2022}} Although the European Union proposed banning the channel across all its member states,{{efn|RT DE, RT's German subsidiary, was banned in Germany during the lead-up to the invasion.{{cite news |last1=Roth |first1=Andrew |authorlink=Andrew Roth |title=Russia to expel German broadcaster after RT blocked in Germany |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/03/russia-to-expel-german-broadcaster-after-rt-banned-in-germany |access-date=1 March 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=3 February 2022}}}} this was opposed by Liz Truss, then British foreign secretary, who feared it may lead to a retaliatory ban on the BBC and other British news outlets in Russia.{{cite news |title=Britain says a ban on Russia's RT could lead to retaliation against BBC |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/britain-says-ban-russias-rt-could-lead-retaliation-against-bbc-2022-02-28/ |access-date=1 March 2022 |work=Reuters |date=28 February 2022}}

Ofcom revoked RT's UK broadcasting licence "with immediate effect" on 18 March 2022 after concluding the outlet was not "fit and proper" or a "responsible broadcaster". In particular, Ofcom said that Russian laws against disinformation concerning the Russian invasion of Ukraine meant that RT could not report the invasion responsibly.{{Cite news |last=Kanter |first=Jake |date=18 March 2022|title=Russia Today stripped of UK broadcasting licence by Ofcom |language=en |work=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/russia-today-stripped-of-uk-broadcasting-licence-by-ofcom-wf3hnnr67 |access-date=18 March 2022|issn=0140-0460|url-access=subscription}} At the time of the ruling, Ofcom had 29 open investigations regarding RT's coverage of the invasion.{{Cite news |last=Woods |first=Ben |date=18 March 2022|title=RT stripped of UK licence by Ofcom |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/03/18/rt-stripped-uk-licence-ofcom/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=18 March 2022|issn=0307-1235}} The ruling only concerned the right to broadcast in the UK; RT's ability to broadcast online was not affected.{{cite news|last=Waterson|first=Jim|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/18/rt-uk-broadcasting-licence-kremlin-backed-tv-channel-ofcom|title=Ofcom revokes UK broadcasting licence of Kremlin-backed RT TV channel|newspaper=The Guardian|date=18 March 2022|access-date=18 March 2022}} Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov criticised the ban, saying it was "continuing the anti-Russian madness that is happening in America and Europe".{{Cite news |last=Wembridge |first=Mark |date=18 March 2022|title=UK watchdog revokes Russia Today's broadcast licence with immediate effect |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/51bc4e11-6dd6-45e5-97c9-8874addd6626 |access-date=18 March 2022}}

• Going Underground (2014–2022) with Afshin Rattansi{{cite web|url=http://www.rt.com/shows/going-underground/|title=Going Underground|work=RT}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rt.com/onair-talent/afshin-rattansi/|title=Afshin Rattansi — RT|website=RT International}}
• In the Now (Anissa Naouai) [http://www.rt.com/shows/in-the-now-summary/ In The Now] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111143216/https://www.rt.com/ |date=11 November 2022 }} page at RT.com.
• Keiser Report (2009–2022) with Max Keiser[https://rt.com/shows/keiser-report/ Keiser Report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112022601/http://rt.com/shows/keiser-report/ |date=12 January 2015 }} page at the RT website
• Sam Delaney's News Thing (2015–2018) with Sam Delaney[https://rt.com/shows/news-thing/ "Sam Delaney's News Thing"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222092941/https://www.rt.com/shows/news-thing/ |date=22 December 2015 }} page at the RT website
• Sputnik (2013–2022) with George Galloway{{cite web|url=https://www.rt.com/shows/sputnik/|title=Sputnik|work=RT}}
• The Alex Salmond Show (2017–2022) with Alex Salmond
• Venture Capital (Katie Pilbeam){{cite web|url=https://www.rt.com/shows/venture-capital-summary/|title=Venture Capital|work=RT English}}

{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Boom Bust (Ameera David, Bianca Facchinei, & Edward Harrison) from RT America{{Cite web|url=https://www.rt.com/shows/boom-bust/|title=Boom Bust|website=RT International}}
• CrossTalk and On the Money (Peter Lavelle) from RT International[http://www.rt.com/shows/money/ On the Money] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817155805/https://www.rt.com/shows/money/ |date=17 August 2016 }} page at RT.com.
• Larry King Now (Larry King) from RT America[http://www.rt.com/shows/larry-king-now/ Larry King Now] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817155632/https://www.rt.com/shows/larry-king-now/ |date=17 August 2016 }} page at RT.com.
• Politicking (Larry King) from RT America[http://www.rt.com/shows/politicking-larry-king/ Politicking] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817155453/https://www.rt.com/shows/politicking-larry-king/ |date=17 August 2016 }} page at RT.com.
• Redacted Tonight (Lee Camp) from RT America{{cite web|url=https://www.rt.com/shows/redacted-tonight-summary/|title=Redacted Tonight|work=rt.com}}
• Watching the Hawks (Tyrel Ventura, Sean Stone, & Tabetha Wallace) from RT America{{Cite web|url=https://www.rt.com/shows/watching-the-hawks/|title=Watching the Hawks|website=RT International}}
• SophieCo (Sophie Shevardnadze) from RT International[http://www.rt.com/shows/sophieco/ SophieCo] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160612012832/https://www.rt.com/shows/sophieco/ |date=12 June 2016 }} page at RT.com.
• The Big Picture with Thom Hartmann (Thom Hartmann) from RT America[http://www.rt.com/shows/big-picture/ The Big Picture] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111143217/https://www.rt.com/shows/big-picture/ |date=11 November 2022 }} page at RT.com.
• Worlds Apart (Oksana Boyko) from RT International{{cite web|url=http://www.rt.com/shows/worlds-apart-oksana-boyko/|title=Worlds Apart|work=rt.com}}

{{div col end}}

;News anchors

• Bill Dod (2014–2021){{cite web|url=https://www.rt.com/onair-talent/bill-dod/|title=Bill Dod — RT|website=RT International}}
• Kate Partridge

;Correspondents

• Laura Smith (2015–2018){{cite web|url=https://www.rt.com/onair-talent/laura-smith/|title=Laura Smith — RT|website=RT International}}
• Polly Boiko (2015–){{cite web|url=https://www.rt.com/onair-talent/polly-boiko/|title=Polly Boiko — RT|website=RT International}}
• Anastasia Churkina{{cite web|url=https://www.rt.com/onair-talent/anastasia-churkina/|title=Anastasia Churkina — RT|website=RT International}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{Official website}}

{{Russia Today}}

{{RT programs}}

{{Freeview}}

Category:RT (TV network)

Category:Television channels in Russia

Category:English-language television stations in the United Kingdom

Category:24-hour television news channels in the United Kingdom

Category:Defunct television channels in the United Kingdom

Category:Television channels and stations established in 2014

Category:Television channels and stations disestablished in 2022

Category:2014 establishments in the United Kingdom

Category:2022 disestablishments in the United Kingdom