CAIRO: Rusiya Al-Yaum, the first Russian TV channel in Arabic and a new window to modern Russia for the Arab world, celebrated 100 days on air at its official Middle East launch yesterday. Speaking to journalists in Cairo, Sergey Frolov, Director General of parent company ANO TV-Novosti, said the 20-hour news and current affairs satellite channel will address Russian, international and Middle East news events with a perspective that is sensitive to the region's culture.
Frolov said: "There has been a need for this channel for a long time. The integration of mass media has grown to become a global trend and Russia is involved in the process as well. Russia enjoys strong economic and cultural relations with Arab countries, and this is an opportunity to explain how Russia understands international developments and to share the views of its people." Rusiya Al-Yaum is already 100 days old and the response from viewers has been overwhelmingly positive since it went on air in May, according to the channel's management team. The Middle East launch welcomed Mikhail Bogdanov, the ambassador of the Russian Federation to Egypt, and senior channel officials based in Egypt and Moscow.
Mikhail Piotrovsky, Director of The State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, and host of an exclusive documentary series on Rusiya Al-Yaum also attended the press launch. A reception for government and corporate VIPs, as well as prominent public and cultural figures in Egypt, will be held this evening.
Planning for an Arabic-language Russian TV station began in February 2006 following the success of Russia Today, launched in December 2005, which broadcasts in English. Rusiya Al-Yaum has more than 500 staff, around 100 of whom are drawn from across North Africa and the Middle East. The channel's experienced editorial team include journalists working on the ground in Lebanon, Palestine and the Occupied Territories, Iraq, Egypt, France, Britain and the United States.
Rusiya Al-Yaum broadcasts from Moscow with three production studios and a virtual studio. The channel's satellite coverage reaches a potential audience of 350 million in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, and the programs are also available online.
Rusiya Al-Yaum's editorial policy is impartial and aims to objectively present Russia's role in global, regional and domestic affairs with a focus on Russian-Arab relations. The channel's schedule covers breaking news and business as well as original programming spanning documentaries, special features and exclusive interviews.
Rusiya Al-Yaum enjoys content sharing agreements with leading international and Arab news providers, and contributions from respected broadcasters and public personalities with expertise in Arab affairs.
Sergey Frolov of ANO TV-Novosti said: "The main objective of Rusiya Al-Yaum is to establish an ongoing dialogue with Arab communities and improve the perception of Russia in the Arab world. We were pleased to learn that many people were waiting for Rusiya Al-Yaum to launch its broadcasts, and we have received a lot of positive feedback that is helping us shape future programming. Thanks to the suggestions of our viewers, we are already producing more original content and extending our network of professional reporters."
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