How to Break into Putin’s Television Propaganda Fortress
- This can be achieved via satellites, from which 25% of Russians get their news
- Apply sanctions to Russian pay-TV platforms Tricolor and NTV+
- Replace them with free and fair media
In light of Putin’s deadly attacks on Ukrainian hospitals, maternity wards, nuclear facilities, women, and children, one fact is clear to many: if only Russians could see the truth about what is happening, then things might be different. If average Russians were aware of the brutality and barbarism that is being executed in their name on a brotherly Slavic nation, then many believe that Russians would be out on the streets in enough numbers to overwhelm Putin’s goon squad.
But how can reality be displayed, especially in the television space, where most Russians consume their news? The preference for television news of Russians is well known, especially among the older generation. These are the mothers and fathers that can have great sway over sending their sons into conscription and headed to Putin’s horrible war of choice.
One solution which is not usually explored, except in very technical circles, is to break in via satellite, which is the Achilles heel of Putin’s media stranglehold. As the former CEO of the Ukrainian satellite pay-TV company Xtra TV, I have done considerable research into how television is viewed in the region, and how we can best attain penetration into Russian households.
Approximately 25% of Russian households view television via satellite, mostly on two major Russian pay-TV platforms, Tricolor, and NTV+, which are broadcast via a French satellite Eutelsat at 36°E. Putting free and fair Russian language channels on this satellite position would, therefore, enable access to the truth to a large swath of the Russian population.
The question then is why is this not being done if it’s so simple? The main reason is that both Tricolor and NTV+ lease the satellite space from Eutelsat, a French company, and it appears that the platforms do not allow any competing companies access to this strategic Russian satellite position. They must realize that 36°E is a glaring weakness in their media control and have locked out the competition. In past years I have approached Eutelsat to lease space on this position, but since 2014 nothing, as far as I know, been made available.
The flaw in Putin’s media architecture is that Eutelsat is a French company must abide by French law. Eutelsat has enormous power in this situation and has the technical ability to replace the Tricolor and NTV+ packages with free and fair channels. Yet Eutelsat is a business, striving to generate value for their shareholders and must respect the contracts which are in place. However, if pressure were to be applied from both the EU and/or the French government, Eutelsat could be compelled to act.
To achieve the goal of free media delivered to Russian satellite TV households, the following actions should be taken:
- Apply EU sanctions to NTV+ and Tricolor so as to prevent European companies from providing them with technical services. This would force Eutelsat to drop their packages.
- Encourage Eutelsat to allow free and fair channels to replace Russian lies. These channels could include independent media like Rain (Dozhd) which was recently banned in Russia. Ukrainian channels could also be added, with translations provided where necessary. Other aspiring Russian media channels would be quick to apply for access to this position as well. It could quickly become a wellspring of reliable news in the middle of Putin’s alternative reality media universe.
- Provide funding to private companies allowing them to organize the uplink of different channels on 36°E. Funding for the channels themselves should be provided by international agencies and institutions since the main aim of this effort is not commercial.
- Create a program to finance the distribution of decoders needed to receive the new signal. This could be achieved via the many manufacturers who already sell such common and relatively inexpensive decoders in Russia. In most cases a simple new decoder would be necessary to view the new channels.
Putin’s media fortress is formidable, but by exploiting a weakness via satellite, it is quite possible to push the truth through.
Jim Phillipoff is an American media specialist and a former CEO of Ukrainian satellite platforms. He is also a former CEO of Kyiv Post Media.
