Russian news channel RT was selected as the best channel representing Russia in Europe at the prestigious Hot Bird TV Awards 2011.
Founded in 1998 by Eutelsat, the Hot Bird TV Awards ceremony took place in Venice on November 25th. News channels broadcasting in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa via Eutelsat competed for prizes.
This is not the first time RT has topped international prize lists. In 2010 the channel was the first Russian broadcaster to be shortlisted in the News category at the Emmy International Awards.
RT was launched in 2005. The channel broadcasts 24/7 from it studios in Moscow and Washington to an estimated audience of over 430 million viewers in 100 countries. The channel is available online, at www.rt.com. RT was the first news channel in the world to break the 500 million view threshold on Youtube.