WASHINGTON, November 11 (Sputnik) — CNN hopes to return to the Russian market as soon as it evaluates all the formalities of the country's new media legislation, a statement sent to Sputnik by the Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a division of Time Warner Company, which owns CNN, says.
"Turner International is assessing its distribution options for CNN in Russia in light of recent changes in Russian media legislation," the statement, sent Monday, says, adding that Turner International is bringing its existing distribution relationships to an end.
"We hope to re-enter the market in due course, and will notify our partners of any update about resuming these services," the statement concluded.
On Monday, the Russian Vedomosti newspaper reported, citing a notice issued by CNN to Russian telecom providers, that the American TV channel would stop cable broadcasting in Russia by the end of this year.
The reason for suspending the broadcasting services was not mentioned, according to the newspaper.
Founded in 1980, CNN opened its Russian division in 1983 and was the first to broadcast news on a 24-hour basis.
Since 2009, Russia's Federal Service for Supervision in the Sphere of Telecom, Information Technologies and Mass Communications, Roskomnadzor, has been requiring local licenses for foreign broadcasters. CNN has applied for the license, but it has not been issued.
Currently, CNN news reaches over 200 million households across 212 countries and territories.
