Vladislav Listyev facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vladislav Listyev
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Listyev reading Novy Vzglyad
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| Born |
Vladislav Nikolayevich Listyev
May 10, 1956 |
| Died | March 1, 1995 (aged 38) Moscow, Russia
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| Cause of death | Assassination |
| Resting place | Vagankovo Cemetery, Moscow |
| Spouse(s) | Albina Nazimova |
Vladislav Listyev, often called Vlad, was a very famous Russian journalist. He also became the head of a major TV channel called ORT. Today, this channel is known as Channel One. Vladislav Listyev was born on May 10, 1956, and sadly passed away on March 1, 1995. He is still remembered as a key person who helped bring democratic ideas to Russian television.
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Vladislav Listyev's TV Career
Vladislav Listyev was one of Russia's most popular journalists and TV hosts. Many years after his death, people still remember him well. He played a big part in bringing new, open ideas to Russian television.
Starting with Vzglyad
Listyev first appeared on TV in the late 1980s. He was one of the hosts of a very popular show called Vzglyad. This name means Glance or Outlook. Vzglyad was a groundbreaking show for its time. Many people thought it was allowed on TV by mistake. The program felt like a "fresh wind" to viewers. It talked about topics that were never discussed publicly before. These included things like Stalin's Great Purge and the death penalty. It also discussed rebuilding the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. About 100 million people watched the show every week. Other hosts included Alexander Lyubimov and Artyom Borovik.
Creating New Shows
After Vzglyad became a big hit, Listyev and his friends started a TV company. They called it VID, which stood for Vzglyad i Drugiye (The View and the Others). This company made programs for the main TV channel in the Soviet Union. This channel was later called Ostankino and then ORT.
With VID, Listyev launched many new TV shows. He was the first host of Pole Chudes ("A Field of Wonders"). This was the Russian version of the popular game show Wheel of Fortune. He also created Ugadai melodiu ("Guess the melody"). This show was the Russian version of Name That Tune. Other shows he started were Tema ("The Theme") and Chas Pik ("The Rush Hour").
Leading a TV Channel
In 1995, Listyev moved from VID to ORT. He was chosen to be the director of the channel. One of his first big decisions as director was to temporarily stop all advertising. This move aimed to remove unauthorized middlemen from the profitable advertising business. It meant that the channel itself would handle all future ad sales.
His Tragic Death
Soon after becoming director, Vladislav Listyev was tragically killed. On the evening of March 1, 1995, he was returning home. He had just finished a live broadcast of his show Chas Pik. He was shot dead on the stairs of his apartment building. His valuables and a large amount of cash were not taken. This led investigators to believe the murder was related to his work or business. However, despite many efforts, the people who shot him and those who ordered the killing were never found.
Public Reaction
Listyev's death caused a huge public outcry in Russia. In a very unusual move, ORT and several other Russian TV channels shut down for a whole day. On March 2, they only showed a picture of Listyev. The words "Vladislav Listyev has been killed" were displayed. Days later, the channel was reorganized. It eventually became the government-controlled Channel One that people watch today.
Thousands of people attended Listyev's wake. Even President Boris Yeltsin visited the studios of Channel One. He gave an emotional speech praising Listyev. Yeltsin mourned his death as a great loss for Russia.
Why It Happened
There has been much discussion about why Listyev was murdered. Two main reasons are often suggested: financial and political. When Listyev stopped the middlemen advertising agencies, he took away a source of huge profits from some people. From a political view, Listyev was very popular. He could influence the opinions of many people across the country.
