Discovery Suspends Operations in Russia Amid War on Ukraine, 15 Channels Will Go Off Air

variety.com:

Manori Ravindran International EditorDiscovery has suspended all operations in Russia amid the country’s war on Ukraine. Around 15 channels that operate through Media Alliance — a joint venture with Russia’s National Media Group — will go off air from Wednesday.The business joins a growing number of media companies that are turning their backs on Russian operations.

CNN, which also operates through the same joint venture, stopped broadcasting from within Russia following a new media law passed last week that criminalizes the publication of “false information” about Russia’s military.Under the new law, journalists who call the war a “war” could be prosecuted and sentenced to prison.

The BBC also suspended its journalism from Russia following the announcement of the new censorship law, although it U-turned on its decision on Tuesday and has now resumed reporting.

A spokesperson for Discovery told Variety: “Discovery has decided to suspend the broadcast of its channels and services in Russia.”Sources indicate that the move boils down to concerns over media censorship — Discovery is a major news player in Europe via its ownership of Poland’s largest news channel, TVN24 — as well as the ongoing war in Ukraine.Discovery operates in Russia through Media Alliance, a joint venture with the country’s powerful National Media Group, which owns Russia’s largest broadcaster, the pro-Kremlin Channel One, and pay-TV company Viasat.