state media trying to rationalize why entertainment programmes are no longer available. - they re trying to say it s. because people are more interested in news right now clearly they re not telling - i the truth about why these companiesl and entertainment programmes are no longer available to russians. and i think that will be the key- for more people to start questioning the information they re getting on state tv, and seeking out. alternative information. and the bbc making those efforts to make it available will be - crucial in that sense. and i wonder whether you, and peter, perhaps you could come in on this first, whether you see what the bbc and others are doing now via newer platforms like tiktok is really any different to what bbc world service, voice of america, radio free europe, and others have been doing for a long time? is this different? you re asking the wrong person. the only reason i sound like an english person is because my parents, who were, sort of, exiled afte
but in a few months, i do hope that many more and more people will be more interested i in getting non official information and getting alternative information because, i as the sanctions will hit russian the population harder, - and as there will be more news about the death of russian - soldiers in ukraine, more and more people will be interested in alternative information. and i do hope that your viewership will increase significantly - in the next few months. 0lga, thank you i know you and vera will be staying with me. jamie, before i let you go, ijust wonder what the bbc s endgame here is? because if you are taking a position which actively undermines the wishes of russia s government, is the bbc in some way taking a position, as well, on whether that government should be in charge in russia, should be setting the rules in russia? well, of course, we don t have an editorial position on that. we are operating within the rules.
the decision of the bbc. so you support it let s also bring in 0lga irisova, who s editor in chief of riddle russia, an onlinejournal covering russian news. you re based in berlin, 0lga i wonder if you and your russian friends and colleagues see the bbc as a helpful and a credible source of information at this perilous moment for your part of the world? hi, thanks for having me. so i can only praise the bbc for this brave decision. - but i would also say that - unfortunately, this solution does not address the problem of the fact that still, most russians watch - tv news and, according to the different polls, l they use russian official- information as the main source of their information about the world. i
used in western europe. it s extremely popular in russia, there s something like 37 38 million regular users. russians use it to message each other and make phone calls, but also as a source of news. and there are some really large independent channels, as well as state channels channels with millions of followers who are putting out any narratives they like. and so we re seeing a disinformation, misinformation war play out in that space that is really beyond the government s control. thank you very much indeed. 0lga, i could see you wanting to come in here how important do you believe telegram and other newer platforms are in terms of the information russians are finding? it s definitely very important. and also youtube, in recent years, has become an alternative to the tv for many russians. but i d also add something about the narratives ian just said that russian tv cannot
how does the bbc fit into this equation? and the reason i ask the question is that, on monday, the bbc announced a raft of new services designed to reach russians. let s understand that decision jamie angus is controller of bbc news output and commissioning. jamie, thanks forjoining us on the media show. why has the bbc stepped into this space in this way? well, of course, the bbc has been providing news in russian for decades, initially on short wave radio services, latterly digital services and on a television bulletin which actually, of course ran on tv rain, on dozhd tv, as vera was talking about. recently, we ve only really been able to get our news through to russian audiences on those digital platforms. and of course, in good times, digital is a brilliant way to disseminate news in a society with, kind of, good connectivity. but, of course, the downside of that, as we ve seen, particularly in the last week, is that when governments decide