Russian propaganda TV channel RT stops broadcasting in Germany

This was reported by Deutsche Welle.

The German-based company has faced "tremendous pressure from governments, media, corporations and others," the statement goes on to say.

The German-language RT DE TV channel was launched on December 16, 2021, with broadcasts via satellite and the Internet. The RT DE website stated that the round-the-clock broadcasting in Germany was launched under a cable and satellite broadcasting license issued in Serbia. A week after the launch, on December 22, the channel was removed from broadcasting via European satellites by the European Satellite Communications Operator at the request of the German media regulator of the federal states of Berlin and Brandenburg.

Later, on February 2, 2022, the Licensing and Supervisory Commission (ZAK), the body of state regulators of radio and television programs in Germany, banned RT DE from broadcasting in Germany, explaining that the channel does not have a license to broadcast in the country, which is required by the current law. RT DE "cannot rely on any other legitimate European authorization," the ZAK decision stated.

On March 1, 2022, the EU Council decided to ban the broadcasting of RT English, RT UK, RT Germany, RT France, RT Spanish, and Sputnik. It was explained that Russia was spreading propaganda through these channels to justify the war against Ukraine, which threatens public order and security of the European Union.