New TV channel “Russia’s Future” launches with Yulia Navalnaya

Channel aims to bolster independent media in Russia

Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, has announced the launch of a new television channel, Svodoba/Russia’s Future (Россия Будущего). The channel was started with the Paris-based organisation Reporters Without Borders (RSF). It aims to preserve Navalny’s legacy and promote freedom of expression in Russia and will be available via the Svoboda Satellite Package — an RSF project dedicated to providing independent Russian-language media to Russian speakers worldwide.

The channel was launched on June 4, which would have been Navalny’s birthday.

Russia’s Future will focus on investigations into corruption and will be available to over 61 million satellite households across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa via Eutelsat’s Hotbird 13G satellite at 13°E. The goal is to reach deep into Russian territory with independent news, commentary, and programming which promotes democratic values and journalistic integrity.

The channel will also be made available to television platforms globally, ensuring access to Russian-language audiences worldwide.

Threatened media in Eastern Europe

Days before the announcement, Dekoder and RAAM, two publications specialised on Eastern Europe, appealed to the European Union, urging it to provide effective support for threatened media outlets in those countries, particularly in light of the US's decision to cut off foreign aid. On 21 May, the EU approved an emergency €5.5 million injection for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. “While they are a step in the right direction, it should not come at the expense of other news outlets, which also play an important role in factual and analytical reporting on Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and other countries in Eastern Europe,” according to the bodies.

Technical Parameters for Reception of Svodoba:

• Satellite: Hotbird 13G at 13.0°E
• Transponder: tp 122
• Frequency: 10949 MHz
• Polarization: Vertical
• Symbol Rate: 27500 Ksym/s
• FEC: 2/3
• Modulation: DVB-S2 / 8PSK

(Michael Leahy. Source: RSF et al. Photo: Kyle Loftus / Pexels)