Konstantin Lvovich Ernst (; born 6 February 1961) is a Russian media manager, producer and TV host. He is currently the CEO of Channel One Russia. Biography Early years and education His father Lev Konstantinovich Ernst, of German descent, was a Soviet biologist and Vice-President of the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences. He carried out research on genetics, biotechnology, selection of agricultural animals and cloning. Konstantin Ernst's mother is Svetlana Nilovna Golevinova, a financial officer. Ernst spent his childhood and youth in Leningrad, where his father had been appointed Head of a new research center. Konstantin graduated from High School No. 35 located on the Vassilyevsky Island and in 1983 got a degree from the Biology and Soil Department of the Leningrad State University. As a child, Konstantin was fascinated by painting, in particular, the work of the Soviet avant-garde painter Alexander Labas. Vzglyad (1988–1989) In an interview with Afisha, as part of the project entitled ‘History of the Russian Media between 1989 and 2011’, Ernst said that he had met Alexander Lyubimov at an informal meeting and that the latter suggested him to try his hand in Vremya, a TV program run by the chief editorial office for children and adolescents of the Central Television of the USSR. Ernst worked in Vzglyad () for two years as an interviewer, scriptwriter and director. His colleague Yevgeny Dodolev says in his book, The Beatles of the Perestroika, that Ernst was able to try himself as a director after he had arranged that Videofilm would provide him with equipment rooms and state-of-the-art (for their time) Betacam SP video cameras for his business trips (at the time, only Vremya personnel had access to this equipment at the Ostankino Technical Center). This persuaded Vzglyad management to give a chance to the young employee and he did not let them down. Matador (1990–1998) In 1989 Anatoly Lysenko, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the youth editorial office at the Central Television and head of Vzglyad, suggested that Ernst start working on his own show. Matador, a TV show on culture, significant events and creative people, premiered in January 1990. Ernst served as a scriptwriter, presenter, director and producer, experimented with ways of presenting information and would sometimes reincarnate into the protagonists of his show. Executive producer of ORT (1995–2001) On 25 January 1995, Vladislav Listyev was appointed CEO of ORT. A little over a month later, on the