Satellite broadcast of RT DE in Europe blocked at media regulator's demand - RT

MOSCOW. Dec 22 (Interfax) - The new German-language television channel RT DE, which commenced operation on December 16, has been blocked in Europe, and the decision will now be appealed in court, RT said in a statement.

"Earlier today, the German media regulator compelled the European satellite operator Eutelsat 9B to remove from its platform our new German-language channel RT DE that operates from studios in Moscow," RT said on Telegram.

In the opinion of RT, "the German media regulator has taken unlawful actions in violation of the European Convention on Transfrontier Television (ECTT), which it is required to follow strictly."

"We deem the actions of the German regulator to be unlawful and are confident that this decision will be reviewed in court," the statement said.

The channel's programs can now be watched on its website, via Smart TV and via a mobile application.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said earlier that Germany was doing everything to make satellite broadcasts of RT programs in the German territory impossible, thus directly hindering journalistic activity.

RT said on December 16 that the YouTube video hosting service removed its new channel, RT auf Sendung, broadcasting live the programs of the German-language channel RT DE launched earlier that day. The Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor) demanded that YouTube restore access to the RT DE - RT auf Sendung channel and said that such actions of the video hosting service might lead to its complete or partial blocking in the Russian territory. The relevant letter was sent to Google.

The Google press service told Interfax that YouTube removed RT auf Sendung due to earlier violations of community rules by the channel owner because of which RT DE was no longer allowed to launch channels on the video hosting service.