Radio Sputnik In The U.S.

[David]

The two AM stations in the U.S. which broadcast Radio Sputnik programming apparently have no plans to discontinue it, despite criticism from the NAB.

www.insideradio.com/free/broadcasters-have-no-plans-to-silence-radio-sputnik-despite-nab-criticism/article_3d21fb5c-9a02-11ec-8a47-8bed81654d59.html

[Terry]

I tried to watch RT (Russian Television) via my Roku a couple of days ago. I wanted to understand the enemy (same reason I monitor CNN & MSNBC). But I couldn’t get RT to load. Now I read that Roku took RT off of the Roku platform. So much for freedom of speech. And now I read that RT has ceased operations. OK.

[kenglish]

I really liked Russia Today, when it first started. They gave real news and opinion, though it was inclined to be favoring their Russian point-of-view (as many government-funded media outlets do).
They had real anchors and journalists. They covered stories similarly to traditional news outlets.

But, they started catering to the "Fox News" and other Murdoch-ian style tabloid journalism. Too many young girls in short dresses, sitting at transparent tables, with cocktail glasses at hand.
Too much fluff, too little real news.

[CAwasinNJ]

Terry, if you're saying that freedom of speech applies to having access to the Roku platform then you are mistaken. The First Amendment (as extended by the Fourteenth Amendment) only applies to laws passed by the government, not to any person or organization. In other words, Russia Today had no constitutional right to use Roku.

[Terry]

You're right CA, I agree. But I do wish I could hear all points of view without interference.

FWIW, Al Jazeera's streaming TV service is really worth watching for their Ukraine coverage. Of course when they cover anything related to the Middle East or Muslim affairs they sometimes have a slant.

BBC World's TV coverage is also good on Ukraine.

[David]

I think this new FCC rule will require the two U.S. AM stations that broadcast Radio Sputnik programming to make some changes soon.

radioinsight.com/headlines/221285/fcc-foreign-sponsorship-rules-take-effect/

[David]

A nonprofit which represents nearly 30 Ukrainian American organizations has petitioned the FCC to revoke the license of Radio Sputnik affiliate WZHF 1390 (Washington, DC), as well as the licenses of 31 other radio stations which are controlled by Arthur and Yvonne Liu.
www.insideradio.com/free/move-to-revoke-sputnik-station-s-license-unlikely-to-succeed-attorneys-say/article_aa66c2b0-ac04-11ec-b603-ab7754bff64a.html

[CAwasinNJ]

The FCC makes it a point not to get involved in programming decisions, period. If that extremely well defined precedent is ended it would be a disaster that nobody wants to see.