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Channel One Russia facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Channel One (Первый канал, meaning "First Channel") is a major television channel in Russia. It's the very first TV channel to broadcast in the Russian Federation! Its main offices are in Moscow, near the famous Ostankino Tower.

For a while, from 1995 to 2002, the channel was known as Public Russian Television, or ORT. Channel One has some big competitors, like the Russia-1 and NTV channels.

Quick facts for kids
Channel One
Первый канал
1канал-5.svg
Country Russia
Headquarters Ostankino Technical Center, Moscow, Russia
Programming
Language(s) Russian
Picture format 1080i HDTV
(downscaled to 576i for the SDTV feed) 4K (during World Cup 2018)
Ownership
Owner (in 2020)
Federal Agency for State Property Management (38.9%)
National Media Group (29%)
VTB Capital (20%)
TASS (9.1%)
Ostankino Technical Center (3.0%)
Key people Konstantin Lvovich Ernst, CEO
Sister channels
  • Karusel
  • Telecafe
  • Dom Kino
  • Music One TV
  • Vremya
  • Dom Kino Premium
  • Bober
  • Perviy Kanal Evraziya
History
Launched 9 March 1938; 87 years ago (1938-03-09)
Replaced Programme One (Soviet Era) (1951–1991)
Former names 1991–1995: Channel 1 Ostankino
1995–2002: Public Russian Television (ORT)
Availability
Terrestrial
Digital terrestrial television Channel 1

History of Channel One

When the Soviet Union ended, the new Russian Federation took over many of its organizations. One of the first things the new government did was to take control of the central television system in December 1991. The old "All-Union State TV and Radio Company" became the "Russian State TV and Radio Company Ostankino".

A businessman named Boris Abramovich Berezovsky later gained influence over the channel, which was then called ORT. He chose a popular TV host, Vladislav Listyev, to be the channel's CEO. Sadly, Listyev was killed a few months later during disagreements over how the channel made money from advertising.

In 1994, Ostankino became a company called Russian Public TV (ORT). The government owned 51% of the shares, and private investors, including banks, owned 49%. This change happened because the channel was having financial problems.

After a financial crisis in 1998, the channel received a large loan from a state-controlled bank. Even with new ownership, Boris Berezovsky still had a lot of influence over the channel's money and what it broadcast until 2000.

From 1995 to 2002, the channel was known as ORT. It continued to show many popular programs from the Soviet era, such as Vremya (news), KVN (a comedy show), and Chto? Gde? Kogda? (a game show).

How Channel One Broadcasts

The main broadcasting center for Channel One is in the Ostankino Tower in Moscow. In 2008, the channel updated its broadcast center with new digital sound systems and modern equipment.

Channel One started broadcasting in high-definition (HD) quality in December 2012. You can also watch Channel One online for free. Viewers in Russia can use 1tv.ru, and international viewers can use 1tv.com.

What Channel One Produces

Channel One has helped create many movies. Some of the most successful Russian films after the Soviet Union ended, like Night Watch (2004) and The Turkish Gambit (2005), were produced by Channel One.

The channel also airs Russian versions of famous international shows. These include Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, Survivor, and Star Factory.

Original Shows

Channel One has many different types of shows:

  • Children's
  • Comedy
    • Big Difference – sketch comedy
    • Calambur – sketch comedy
    • Oba-na – comedy
  • Cooking
    • Gusto
  • Drama
    • Adjutants of Love – telenovela
    • Azazel – based on a book
    • Brezhnev – about a historical figure
    • Brief Guide To A Happy Life – romantic drama
    • Catherine the Great – about a historical figure
    • Children of the Arbat – based on a book
    • The Dark Side of the Moon – detective series
    • The Dawns Here Are Quiet – war story
    • Deadly Force – detective series
    • Empire under Attack – history
    • Ex-Wife
    • As the Reels Turn 1: With Friends Like You – comedy and drama
    • As the Reels Turn 2: The Gamble – comedy and drama
    • As the Reels Turn 3: Blinded by Love – comedy and drama
    • The Fall of the Empire – history
    • Hot Ice – sports drama
    • House with Lilies – historical drama
    • Investigation Held by ZnaToKi – detective series
    • Klim – detective series
    • The Life and Adventures of Mishka Yaponchik – about a historical figure
    • Mata Hari – about a historical figure
    • The Method – detective series
    • Moscow Saga – based on a book
    • Nine Lives of Nestor Makhno – about a historical figure
    • Pyotr Leschenko. Everything That Was... – about a historical figure
    • Raid – detective series
    • Russian Translation
    • A Second Before... – fantasy
    • Silver Spoon – crime
    • The Sniffer – detective series
    • Spetsnaz – war
    • Streets of Broken Lights – detective series
    • The Thaw
    • The Three Musketeers – based on a book
    • Trace – detective series
    • Trifles of Life – telenovela
    • Trotsky – about a historical figure
    • Wedding Ring – telenovela
    • Yalta-45 – war
    • Yesenin – about a historical figure
  • Game shows
    • All or Nothing
    • Field of Wonders
    • The People Versus
    • The Weakest Link
    • What? Where? When?
  • Reality shows
    • Star Factory – talent show
    • Last Hero – like Survivor
    • Let's Get Married – helping people find partners
    • Minute of Fame – talent show
    • One to One! – talent show
    • The Voice – talent show
    • The Voice Kids – talent show
  • Sports
  • News and Talk shows
    • Evening Urgant – a talk show
    • Good Morning
    • Gordon – a talk show
    • Let Them Talk – a talk show
    • Pozner – a current affairs program
    • Prozhektorperiskhilton – a satirical talk show
    • Vremya ("Time") – news program, on air since 1968
    • Vremya Pokazhet ("Time Will Tell")
  • Other
    • In the World of Animals – about animals
    • Song of the Year – music festival
    • Till 16 and older... – about problems young people face
    • Travelers' Club – travel show
    • Vzglyad – current affairs

International Series

Channel One has also broadcast many popular shows from other countries:

  • American series
    • Lost
    • Lie To Me
    • Ugly Betty
    • FlashForward
    • Boardwalk Empire
    • Body of Proof
    • Suits
    • Terra Nova
    • White Collar
    • Californication
    • Ray Donovan
    • Bates Motel
  • Brazilian telenovelas
    • Tropicaliente
    • Mulheres de Areia
    • A Próxima Vítima
    • O Rei do Gado
    • Anjo mau
    • Avenida Brasil
  • Other
    • Forbrydelsen ("The Kill")
    • Sherlock

Past Animated Series

Channel One used to show many animated series, both Russian and international:

Anime Shows

Walt Disney Shows

Political Coverage

Vladimir Putin and Konstantin Ernst 24 March 2014
Vladimir Putin and Konstantin Ernst, the head of Channel One.

Channel One has often been involved in covering political events in Russia. For example, in 1999, the channel showed programs that were critical of certain politicians and parties who were against the pro-Putin party.

Over the years, some people have said that Channel One's news and information programs tend to favor the government's point of view. The head of Channel One, Konstantin Ernst, once said that it would be "strange if a channel that belonged to the state were to express an anti-government point of view."

Critics have pointed out that Channel One often focuses on the good things about government policies. They say the channel sometimes doesn't cover controversial topics, like certain social problems. Also, some argue that the news reports can mix facts with opinions, especially when talking about government actions.

For instance, during the 2004 Ukrainian presidential elections, some observers felt that the Russian government supported one candidate, Viktor Yanukovych. A Channel One reporter said that he was gaining popularity by working on the economy and solving problems, without criticizing his opponent.

In 2005, when there were protests in Russia about changes to social benefits, a Channel One anchor said that while you could understand the protesters, the old system was no longer working. A reporter also suggested that criticizing the changes was just a way for some people to get attention.

On March 14, 2022, an editor for Channel One, Marina Ovsyannikova, interrupted a live news broadcast. She held up a poster that said, "Stop the war, don't believe the propaganda, here you are being lied to." This was a protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Management and Owners

Channel One has different owners, including the Russian government and private companies. In 2005, the government owned 51% of the shares, and private shareholders owned 49%.

As of 2021, VTB Bank owned a significant portion of the shares. Also, Yuriy Kovalchuk, a close friend of Vladimir Putin, owns parts of Channel One through his company, National Media Group.

Eurovision Song Contest 2009

Channel One was the official broadcaster for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009. This big music competition was held in Moscow that year.

Sister Channels

Channel One has several other digital TV channels that are part of its "Digital TV-family":

  • Dom Kino (Cinema House) – shows movies
  • Dom Kino Premium (Cinema House Premium) – premium movies
  • Muzyka Pervogo (Channel One Music) – plays music
  • Vremya (Time) – focuses on 20th-century history
  • Telecafe (Television Café) – about food
  • Bobyor (Beaver) – about lifestyle
  • O! – for families
  • Poyekhali (Let's Go) – about travel
  • Karusel (Carousel) – a channel especially for children, created with another TV company

Channel Logos

Since it started in 1991, Channel One's logo has always featured the number "1" in different designs.

Logo History

The first logo in 1991 was a blocky "1" with a thin black outline. In 1995, it changed to a simple "1" in a circle. Later that year, an italic "1" with the letters "ОРТ" was introduced.

In 1997, a golden italic "1" with a partial ring and "ОРТ" in separate blocks was used. The current logo, launched in 2000, shows a "1" with a cut on a dark blue background. Even though the channel's name changed from "ОРТ" to "Channel One Russia" in 2002, this 2000 logo is still used today.

  • Логотип 1-й канал Останкино

    December 27, 1991 - March 31, 1995

  • ORT logo rr

    April 1 - September 30, 1995

  • Channel one russia logo 2

    October 1, 1995 - December 31, 1996

  • Logo ОРТ

    Another version of the 1995 logo

  • Channel one russia logo 3

    January 1, 1997 - September 30, 2000

  • 1канал-5

    October 1, 2000 – present

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