112 Ukraine

112 Ukraine (Ukrainian: 112 Україна) is a private Ukrainian TV channel, which provides 24-hour news coverage. It was banned from broadcasting in Ukraine on 2 February 2021.[2] 112 Ukraine is available on satellites AMOS 2/3, via DVB-T2 network and in packages of all major Ukrainian cable operators. 112 Ukraine is focused on live broadcast.

112 Ukraine
CountryUkraine
Broadcast areaUkraine
SloganKnow more! (Ukrainian: Знай більше)
Programming
Language(s)Ukrainian, Russian
Picture format1080i (HDTV)
(downscaled to letterboxed 576i for SDTV)
Ownership
OwnerTaras Kozak[1]
History
Launched28 November 2013 (2013-11-28)
Links
Website112.ua/glavnye-novosti
Availability
Satellite
Astra 4A12341 H / 30000 / 5/6 (HD / FTA)
Amos-311140 H / 30000 / 3/4 (SD / FTA)
Amos-311140 H / 30000 / 3/4 (HD / FTA)

It is reportedly affiliated with the pro-Russian politician and businessman Viktor Medvedchuk.[3][4] Since December 2018, the channel has been owned by Taras Kozak, a parliament member of Opposition Platform — For Life[5] who is reportedly an associate of Medvedchuk.[1][6] The broadcasting of the channel was forbidden on 2 February 2021 by the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine as part of the imposed sanctions on Kozak.[2] The channel was immediately shut down but continued to livestream its content on the internet.[2]

History of the channel

This news channel was launched within 4 months, starting from concept development, equipment supply and office space design up to programming and business optimization solutions. On 26 November 2013, the presentation of 112 Ukraine took place, and on 28 November 2013, the new TV channel appeared on Ukrainian screens.[7] In August 2014, 112 Ukraine had established its own correspondence bureau in Brussels, Belgium.[8] Within the period of its broadcast, 112 Ukraine has organized live linkups with Crimea, Moscow, Vilnius, Lviv and Malaysia. The same way, the 20-hour TV marathon was held while elections to Verkhovna Rada had place.

During the first informal July 2014 meeting with 112 Ukraine representatives Head and Deputies of the National Television and Radio Broadcasting Council claimed that “112 Ukraine” owner Andrey Podschypkov is a nominal owner, despite the documentary proofs. National Council representatives stated that the real owner is one of the former Ministers of the Viktor Yanukovych cabinet, and refused to renew the programming concept of five regional stations of 112 Ukraine television network. In 2015, 112 Ukraine received notice from the National Council for remarks by Russian journalist Maksim Shevchenko, who was interviewed in the studio via Skype during the "Shuster LIVE" talk-show.[9] The president of the European Federation of Journalists stated in February 2015 that the threat of closure targeting 112 Ukraine seemed clearly disproportionate.[10]

In December 2018 member of parliament for Opposition Bloc Taras Kozak acquired the channel and all six TV channels in the "112 Ukraine" group.[1] (In 2019 he was reelected for Opposition Platform — For Life.[5])

On July 13, 2019, an unidentified assailant fired a grenade at the Kyiv 112 Ukraine office, causing damage to the building.[11][12]

Closure

On 2 February 2021 by the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine as part of the imposed sanctions on 112 Ukraine owner Taras Kozak.[2] As part of these sanctions the channel was forbidden to broadcast in Ukraine.[2] The channel was immediately shut down but continued to livestream its content on the internet.[2] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the ban had been a difficult decision and that Ukraine supported freedom of speech but not "propaganda financed by the aggressor country."[2] Adviser of the Office of the President of Ukraine Mykhailo Podolyak stated in Ukrainian media that the channel, and fellow banned TV channels owned by Kozak NewsOne (Ukraine) and ZIK (Ukraine), were “quite actively and often openly used as tools of foreign propaganda in Ukraine.”[2] In a joint statement with NewsOne and ZiK 112 Ukraine commented on its ban: "We regard this decision...as a political reprisal against objectionable media."[2] Russian Senator for United Russia Aleksey Pushkov claimed that "By shutting down opposition television channels, Zelensky acknowledged his inability to withstand political competition."[2] In a written statement the spokesperson of EU's Foreign Affairs High Representative Josep Borrell stated "while Ukraine's efforts to protect its territorial integrity and national security, as well as to defend itself from information manipulation are legitimate" it added that "any measures taken should be proportional to the aim".[13] The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine released a statement on 3 February 2020 that stated "The United States supports Ukraine’s efforts yesterday to counter Russia’s malign influence, in line with Ukrainian law, in defense of its sovereignty and territorial integrity."[14]

Structure and coverage

Prior to its February 2021 ban[2] 112 Ukraine covered 75% of the territory of Ukraine. The channel was available in the packages of the largest Ukrainian cable operators, and is also broadcast via DVB-T2 network and AMOS 2/3 satellites. 112 Ukraine operated on one satellite license and five regional digital licenses, which were united by the joint venture agreement. The satellite license for 112 Ukraine was issued on 22 August 2013. The companies with digital licenses were merged with companies of 112 Ukraine on 16 August 2014.[15]

A study as performed at the Policy Institute at King's College London to evaluate the spread of misinformation from Russian state media such as RT and Sputnik into international media, including British tabloids like The Daily Mail and Ukrainian Russian-language media like 112.ua. The study found that Russian media often took reporting from Ukrainian sources and repackaged it. However, it found no general evidence of the reverse. This result replicated when closer analysis was performed on two specific news stories, with in one case "no instances of content from RT, RIA or TASS being replicated on the Ukrainian sites, but multiple instances of Russian sites using Ukrainian content to report on the parade," and in another the only Russia-to-Ukraine transfer coming from a long quotation.[16]

The site EUvsDisinfo has highlighted a small number of specific articles in 112.international and 112.ua as promoting pro-Russian talking points. The site has highlighted a fake blog post accusing the Ukrainian military as lazy that was reported on in the English-language 112.international[17] and an interview in which the interviewee claimed that Kyiv aimed to sabotage peace in Donbas.[18]

References
  1. (in Ukrainian) Comrade Medvedchuk became the owner of "112 Ukraine" TV channel, Ukrayinska Pravda (14 December 2018)
  2. Ukraine Sanctions 'Russian Trojan Horse' Media Assets Associated With Putin Friend, Radio Free Europe (3 February 2021)
    (in Ukrainian) Zelensky imposed sanctions on Medvedchuk's ally and his TV channels for five years, Ukrinform (2 February 2021)
  3. "Pro-Putin politician Medvedchuk gains control over 112 Ukraine TV channel". Ukrainian Independent Information Agency. 2018-08-21. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
  4. "Opinion | 112 Ukraine will broadcast a film about "civil conflict", the main characters – Medvedchuk and Putin". Opinion UA. 2019-07-11. Archived from the original on 2020-08-14. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
  5. Kozak Taras Romanovych, URK.VOTE
  6. "We call on the prevention of the creeping Occupation of the media space by Russia. A statement by former ZIK employees, Mediarukh and NGOs". Reanimation Package of Reforms Coalition. 2019-07-05. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
  7. ""112-Украина". Полный разгул демократии". Mediananny. November 27, 2013.
  8. "Channel "112 Ukraine" opened a news bureau in Brussels". Mediabusiness. August 8, 2014. Archived from the original on June 18, 2015. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  9. "TV council sends warning to 112 Ukraine TV channel for infringements during Shuster Live show". Interfax-Ukraine. February 19, 2015.
  10. "IFJ Backs Ukraine Russian Dialogue to Counter Harassment and Intimidation of Journalists". International Federation of Journalists. February 27, 2015.
  11. "Kyiv office of 112 Ukraine TV channel attacked from grenade launcher (Photo, video)". Unian Information Agency. 13 July 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  12. "Ukraine investigates grenade attack on Kiev TV station". WION. 13 July 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  13. EU Questions Ukrainian President's Sanctions On TV Stations, Radio Free Europe (3 February 2021
  14. U.S. supports Ukraine's efforts to counter Russian disinformation – embassy, Ukrinform (3 February 2020)
  15. Ukraine channel broadcasts live with much lower budgets, but at the same high level as the market giants: Deutsche Welle (Germany) – 12 hours live broadcasts per day, NHK World (Japan) – 12 hours, CNN (USA) – 20 hours, BBC World News - 20 hours.
  16. Ramsay, Gordon; Robertshaw, Sam (2019). Weaponising news: RT, Sputnik and targeted disinformation (Report). Policy Institute at King's College London.
  17. "US lieutenant colonel shocked by drunkenness and laziness of Ukraine's soldiers". EUvsDisinfo.
  18. "The government in Kyiv is sabotaging peace in Donbas". EUvsDisinfo.
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