The Kremlin-backed RT channel, which has reported that Russian troops are trying to liberate Ukraine, has been suspended by Foxtel in Australia.
“In view of concern about the situation in Ukraine, the Russia Today channel is currently unavailable on Foxtel and Flash,” a spokesperson for the Foxtel Group said.
Foxtel made the decision on Saturday evening after monitoring the broadcast and stopped streaming RT at 5.45 pm on Foxtel and Flash. The satellite transmission came off the air at 6.40pm.
Russian state broadcaster RT just published Tucker Carlson’s rant to defend Putin with Russian subtitles pic.twitter.com/atmHt4TlmS
— Ragıp Soylu (@ragipsoylu) February 23, 2022
For several days after the Russian invasion started, viewers of the channel formerly known as Russia Today were told troops were trying to “liberate” land from Ukraine on behalf of two Russian-backed breakaway states.
Australian viewers saw coverage of the situation in Ukraine from a pro-Russian perspective, with on-the-ground reports that included interviews with jubilant residents, and Russian citizens who had “selflessly opened their doors” to refugees.
Australians can still access RT on YouTube and via the broadcaster’s own website.
The decision was a backflip for Foxtel which a day earlier said it was committed to keeping the English-language news channel on air.
“Foxtel and Flash are committed to diversity in their news channels, including 14 Australian and international news channels on Foxtel and over 20 news sources on Flash,” a spokesperson said on Friday.
“These include BBC World News, CNN and Sky News Australia, as well as Russia Today. Each of these channels have a different editorial approach and provide our subscribers with a choice of varied perspectives on world affairs.
“While we are concerned at the gravity of the situation unfolding, the Foxtel Group does not endorse content from its news channel providers, including Russia Today. We will continue to monitor the situation.”
Public broadcaster SBS was quicker to act, suspending the broadcast of news bulletins NTV Moscow and Russia Today last week in response to feedback from the Australian Russian-speaking community and a personal phone call from the federal communications minister, Paul Fletcher.
“SBS is continuing to provide news and information in Russian for Australian audiences through its SBS Russian service (SBS.com.au/Russian) across radio, online and social media, including expanded coverage of current events as they unfold,” SBS said.
Fletcher, who was not involved in the Foxtel decision, praised SBS: “Given the current actions of the Russian government, and the lack of genuinely independent Russian media, this is a responsible decision.”
In the UK, the media regulator, Ofcom, is monitoring RT’s output for potential breaches of the broadcasting code.
UK Labour has called for a ban on the Russian state-backed broadcaster, accusing the channel of pumping out pro-Vladimir Putin “propaganda”.
