RTVI (Russian Television International), more recently stylized as RTVi, is a privately-owned international Russian-language television network. Its primary target audience are Russian-speaking communities outside the former USSR, most notably in Germany, the United States and Israel. RTVI does not directly broadcast to Russia, but is available to the Russian audience online and through the Astra 4A satellite. The studios are based in New York City and Moscow. The channel launched on 1 January 1997 as NTV International, before rebranding as RTVi in 2002. It has special programs focused on politics and local Russian-speaking communities. History Ownership The channel was founded in 1997 by Vladimir Gusinsky as a part of NTV channel. RTVI was owned by Russian businessman Ruslan Sokolov who bought the channel from its founder Vladimir Gusinsky in 2012. A group of Israeli private investors purchased RTVI International channel in 2017. In October 2019, the Armenia-born American Mikayel Israyelyan () was named the new owner of RTVI. Staff RTVi's News Director till June 2020 was Ekaterina Kotrikadze. Russian journalist Alexey Pivovarov was appointed editor-in-chief in 2016. Pivovarov remained in this position till 25 June 2020. On 10 March 2022, the general producer of RTVI Sergey Shnurov announced the temporary termination of cooperation with RTVI. References External links http://www.runyweb.com/articles/leisure/tv-radio-press/rtvi-presented-the-new-leadership-in-new-york-the-updated-concept-of-the-channel.html Mass media companies of Russia Television channels and stations established in 2002 Russian-language television stations English-language television stations 2002 establishments in Russia Vladimir Gusinsky