CNN to stop broadcasting in Russia from next year

US cable and satellite television broadcaster CNN that became famous for broadcasting the first Persian Gulf War in 1991 live to viewers around the world, will stop broadcasting in Russia from 1 January 2015 after President Vladimir Putin last month passed a law restricting foreign media ownership in Russia.

Turner Broadcasting System division of Time Warner, the owner of Atlanta-based CNN, announced the decision through a statement yesterday. It did not give reasons for the pull out, but analysts point out to a law passed by the Russian parliament in October which limits foreign media ownership in Russia to 20 per cent.

Turner International is quoted to have said in an email statement to the media that it "is assessing its distribution options for CNN in Russia in light of recent changes to Russian media legislation. We are bringing our existing distribution relationships to an end while we do that.''

"We hope to be able to re-enter the market in due course. We will notify our partners about the resumption of our services," the statement added.

CNN's Moscow bureau operations would not be affected by the pull out.

CNN, which began broadcasting in Russia from 1993, just a few years after the end of the Cold War, has given broadcast rights to Russian cable and satellite television operators Akado, Vimpelcom, NTV+, and others.

Vimpelcom and Akado confirmed to Russian media that they have received a letter from CNN that it would halt broadcasting from the start of next year.

But it is not clear why only CNN has decided to stop broadcasting in Russia since no other foreign broadcaster has made such a decision although the law applies to all overseas media.