\u2014 We are watched the most in Russia. Actually, this is why the channel was created. In May, for example, we had more than 515 million digital views, about half of them from Russia, and almost 80% of viewers from abroad. And this indicator is growing. We have many videos, the views of which are not from Ukraine, reach 95 – 99%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In May, the address of President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, we translate it into Russian, received the most views, information about the breakthrough in the Belgorod region. Also in the trends is the emotional statement of a veteran of the Second World War about the war that Russia has unleashed against Ukraine – “Putin must be hanged and finished. This is genocide.” It was viewed more than 1.6 million times, and 90% were not from Ukraine. From the current issue at the beginning of June – the statements of the official Ukrainian speakers about Russia’s detonation of the Kakhovka HPP. And with this topic, we were trending not only in Russia, but also in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Are you talking about online broadcasting?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Yes, we measure everything exclusively online, so we understand that the real numbers of views are higher. After all, the pace of development of the Ukrainian foreign broadcasting network since the beginning of the full-scale invasion indicates a demand for FREEDOM channel content in many countries. To clarify: by the beginning of 2022, we spoke on two satellites, and now on six, and we are working on expansion. Also, during this period, we added 20 countries where we are in national cable networks, now there are more than 40 of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 And where would you like to be seen more – in Russia or, after all, in Europe?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 In Russia, of course. Although more precisely, wherever there are those who are used to consuming content in Russian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Let’s be honest, the Russian audience is quite specific, given the alienation in which it is. And you need to communicate with each audience in the language they understand. Are you targeting the European market?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 We are focusing on the territory where there is a Russian language and a Russian-speaking community. Today, it is the largest on the territory of Russia and the CSTO countries (the Collective Security Treaty Organization, which includes Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan, \u2014 ed.).<\/p>\n\n\n\n And this audience, as you noted, is “blinded” not only in Russia. There is still a lot of work to be done in order to somehow clear people’s heads of Russian propaganda, and accordingly \u2014 to enter with a Ukrainian point of view, even if it is expressed in Russian. I will give an unexpected example – Latvia. Without objection, the country has a pro-Ukrainian position. It has a large Russian-speaking community, and they sat en masse on Russian content, so on February 24 there were many among them with the position “not everything is so clear”. And now we have data on how this position was transformed when an alternative source of information appeared. Over time, people simply refused to watch Russian. And they need a quality replacement. That’s why, for example, in digital we are in the top, apart from Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Germany and Uzbekistan. And on the platform of one of the OTT providers \u2014 Poland, Germany, Kazakhstan, Lithuania and the Czech Republic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 In Russia, the broadcast is only on YouTube?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Technically, we cover the European part of Russia through satellites. Owners of private satellite dishes, the so-called “mountain snakes”, can see FREEDOM from the Hotbird 13G satellite, in particular on the territory of Russia. But we do not have data on these views. As for the satellites that cover the rest of the Russian Federation, it is very difficult to get on them, in fact they don’t let us go there. But we are working to break through this wall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore, as evidence, yes, these are broadcasts on YouTube, sometimes Twitter, Telegram channels. Others are blocked, unfortunately. But we see that there are requests from Russia on both TikTok and Instagram because people are using VPNs. During the survey, it was established: if a person uses a VPN, then he is more critical of the actions of the authorities inside Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By the way, people watching us via VPN are not counted as watching us from within Russia. This is the problem. For example, they enter from Russia, and Malaysia knocks out. Therefore, today we are counting the influence precisely through the narrative part. For example, we see that a campaign is gaining momentum in Russia regarding the fact that the Kakhovka HPP was blown up by Ukrainians. Accordingly, we make content that explains the real state of affairs, why this is misinformation, what actually happened, what the current situation is at the HPP, who is involved in overcoming the consequences of the disaster, and so on. And then we look at the number of views on this particular topic, what kind of coverage, which regions watched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our task is to reach more coverage than the Russian coverage of this or that topic. For example, the Russians are very active in discussing sanctions topics, they say that sanctions do not work, that these are all fictions and that Russia will continue to stand. And we make our content about sanctions every day, explaining how they work. We give real information as things happen and overlay their content with ours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our competitors are Russia Today and Russian federal channels<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Our competitors are Russia Today and federal channels operating inside Russia. We are trying to reach the audience that watches Russian television. Accordingly, people who watch “Russia 24”, “Russia 1”, NTV or “Perviy Kanal” also have an unhindered opportunity to watch FREEDOM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As for abroad, the Ukrainian foreign language system also has two English-language formats: the YouTube channel UATV English \u2014 an information channel about events in Ukraine, and the new digital platform The Gaze. It was launched in June, and it is aimed specifically at a Western audience – Europe and the USA, which is interested in the phenomenon of the new Europe and Ukraine as its component. There is less news here – only key ones, many reports, analytics, there is entertainment content, streaming. There is also an Arabic format on YouTube \u2014 UATV Arabic. And there is the channel “Home” in Ukrainian, which focuses on our immigrants and refugees abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 It used to be believed that in order to compete with such channels as “Russia 24”, large funds were needed. What do you need now?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 First of all, the idea and interest of the author himself to be at the forefront of information is needed. We make the FREEDOM channel more intelligent than “Russia 24”, NTV or “First Channel”. Our presenters are often experts on many issues. We are betting on viewers who are a little tired of violence and shouting on Russian television and want to get a more objective picture of today. Intelligent presentation of information is our credo, and this is how we talk to the viewer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regarding funds, this is state television, you can open the documents and see how much is spent. It is clear that more money is spent on propaganda in Russia, but it is propaganda. We still work as a separate media organization, which has its own charter, editorial board, our processes are structured differently than in Russia. Now, during the war, many journalists join our project because of their own desire to show their patriotism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 When the FREEDOM channel was launched, there was a lot of criticism. First, people did not understand why we broadcast to the world in Russian, because it is the language of the enemy, and it once again blurs the borders. Secondly, why are Russians among the guests of the broadcast. If I understand the first one, because it is the concept of foreign language, then why are Russians important for your broadcast?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 We are not only inviting Russians. I am generally a fan of the concept of inviting more western experts and they are too. There are Russians and Ukrainians. And most of them are Ukrainians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is generally difficult with the Russians now, because those who remain in Russia are not available for comment due to very complex sanctions, unfortunately. The same Volodymyr Kara-Murza, as you know, is already in prison, he was given 25 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Again, I repeat, this is a channel for the Russian-speaking community, wherever it is. Therefore, actually, among the Russian-speaking community there are citizens of Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 There are also disputes about the fact that there cannot be “good Russians”.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 But these are other disputes. Of course, there are discussions within society. We fulfill a state task. And there were always discussions. And it’s good that they are. It seems to me that, on the contrary, the number and quality of discussions should be increased so that they do not turn to personal insults, but that it is a discussion of the work of our institution. Then the Ukrainian foreign language will be more stable and confident, and citizens who pay taxes will be more confident that the work is being done in the necessary direction. And it is being conducted. And in my opinion, just in the right direction, as evidenced by the numbers. Look \u2014 Skabeeva, Solovyov, Kiselyov dropped out of the rankings. This is related to what the FREEDOM channel does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We have our “red lines”<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Yes, we have “red lines”. We will never invite people who openly support the so-called SVO in Russia to the air, because this is a position that sharply contradicts the state position of the state of Ukraine. When our citizens are killed, what other opinion can we talk about? No. We have clear editorial rules, how we, for example, subtitle Peskov or other speakers, so that it does not harm our fellow citizens, who are refugees in Poland or Russia, who understand Russian and choose our channel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We are constantly looking for consensus on how to do better and fully understand the responsibility within the community as to how this content is produced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 “Red lines” apply only to citizens of Russia or to citizens of Ukraine who live there? For example, would you invite Ani Lorak to the broadcast?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 <\/strong>I think, no. She has public statements as far as I know. Therefore, it is necessary to look at her statements, actions, whether there is a criminal case opened against her here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, if a person is wanted, like Pushilin, what to talk about with such a person? He is also a citizen of Ukraine. But given what he says from Moscow, of course there will be no place for such people. Or there will be a place with a critical analysis of his words. We are not a platform for promoting quotes from people like Pushylin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 To engage in counter-propaganda, you need to know the Russian agenda well, everything that is happening in Russia. Do you have enough strength and nerves to watch Russian news?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 We are watching everything, we know everything. We have special monitoring groups, so we know their agenda one hundred percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Ministry of Culture and Information Policy has a Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security, which is managed by Ihor Solovei. They help us, for which we are very grateful. I really like their work and communication style. Therefore, we know a lot about the events in Russia, including thanks to Igor and his organization. The Ministry of Culture also pays a lot of attention to the policy of disinformation and countering fakes, and we are also grateful to them for this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Three media groups are involved in the production of your content. Are you planning to expand to be its own state?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 <\/strong>They produce partially. We cover most of the hours ourselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Currently, many Ukrainians are outside Ukraine, so you have the opportunity to create a widespread network of your own correspondents abroad. Do you attract Ukrainian journalists to work?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 <\/strong>Of course. We cooperate with freelancers and try to build our own networks. I am interested in this, as I am responsible for the information policy. In addition, I am the founder of the “Donbas Media Forum”, and this year one of the thematic areas is the development of own networks in authoritarian countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s very hard work, I’ll be honest. But it is important that we can receive factually verified data from the occupied regions, countries where an authoritarian regime rules today. That’s why it’s number one on the agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Decolonization must be carried out even in the liberal media<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/uatv.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image-2.png\")
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\u2014 Do I understand correctly that your main competitors in the information field are the so-called opposition Russian mass media? The same “Meduza” or “Dozhd”? At least that’s what they call themselves.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/uatv.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image-1.png\")
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\u2014 Are you ready to invite any Russians to the air? Are there people you would never turn to in your life?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n