Editing Television broadcaster (section)

===Russia===
{{See also|Television in Russia}}

====Soviet era====
The first television network in the [[Soviet Union]] launched on 7 July 1938 when Petersburg – Channel 5 of Leningrad Television became a unionwide network.
The second television network in the [[Soviet Union]] launched on 22 March 1951 when Channel One of USSR Central Television became a unionwide network. Until 1989, there were six television networks, all owned by the USSR Gosteleradio. This changed during [[Mikhail Gorbachev]]'s [[Perestroika]] program, when the first independent television network, [[2x2 (TV channel)|2×2]], was launched.

====1990s====
Following the breakup of the Soviet Union, USSR Gosteleradio ceased to exist as well as its six networks. Only Channel One had a smooth transition and survived as a network, becoming [[Channel One (Russia)|Ostankino Channel One]]. The other five networks were operated by Ground Zero. This free airwave space allowed many private television networks like [[NTV (Russia)|NTV]] and [[TV-6 (Russia)|TV-6]] to launch in the mid-1990s.

====2000s====
The 2000s were marked by the increased state intervention in Russian television. On 14 April 2001 NTV experienced management changes following the expulsion of former [[oligarchy|oligarch]] and NTV founder [[Vladimir Gusinsky]]. As a result, most of the prominent reporters featured on NTV left the network. Later on 22 January 2002, the second largest private television network [[TV-6 (Russia)|TV-6]], where the former NTV staff took refuge, was shut down allegedly because of its editorial policy. Five months later on 1 June, [[TVS (Russia)|TVS]] was launched, mostly employing NTV/TV-6 staff, only to cease operations the following year. Since then, the four largest television networks (Channel One, Russia 1, NTV and Russia 2) have been state-owned.

Still, the 2000s saw a rise of several independent television networks such as [[REN (TV channel)|REN]] (its coverage increased vastly allowing it to become a federal network), Petersburg – Channel Five (overall the same), the relaunched [[2x2 (TV channel)|2×2]]. The Russian television market is mainly shared today by five major companies: Channel One, Russia 1, NTV, TNT and CTC.