The director of RT en Español spoke to ttvnews about the challenges of leading a news and current affairs channel in the region, where since its launch in 2009 it has reached more than 1,100 pay TV operators and 400 million viewers.
Since its launch in 2009, RT en Español has entered more than 1,100 pay TV operators, and has a solid presence in the market. The news and current affairs channel is broadcast 24/7 on the main TV platforms in the region.
With ten correspondents in both America and Europe, most of RT en Español’s programming is produced in Latin America: half-hour newscasts, documentaries, analysis, debate and travel programs.
In dialogue with ttvnews, Victoria Vorontsova, director of RT en Español; shares her vision about the challenges of leading a news channel with a team of 50 journalists, filmmakers, cameramen, among other employees from more than 20 countries.
What are the informative pillars for the RT channel?
At RT we share what is happening in the world and, as much as possible, we offer different perspectives on the most varied topics. We are not afraid to shake up the global news landscape to make voices heard that are not always heard in other local and international media. Our work and the trust of the audience have made RT en Español one of the main sources of information in Spanish worldwide.
How many homes does linear TV reach?
RT en Español reaches almost 400 million viewers in Latin America. It is both the 24/7 broadcast and the partial broadcast on the main local television channels. RT is one of the most popular channels in Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela. There it is available on open broadcast networks. In addition, the channel is still available on the TDA in Argentina, while its audience is growing in Mexico, Colombia and El Salvador. Since its launch in 2009, RT en Español has entered more than 1,100 pay-TV operators and has a solid presence in the market.
Which local partners do you have alliances with in the region?
RT collaborates with almost all players in local markets. We have also spent many years strengthening our contacts with journalists in the region. We have launched a professional exchange program to strengthen cooperation called CompaRTe. Journalists from Cuba and Nicaragua, along with hundreds of colleagues, as well as professors and students from the main universities in these countries have attended RT workshops in Havana and Managua. They have been very fruitful exchanges of opinions for us and we would like to continue joining efforts in communication. We plan to take this program to other countries in Latin America.
In what format is the RT en Español channel currently delivered?
As in other industries, the audiovisual sector is also seeing a large increase in the use of the cloud, which is proving to be a great asset and represents a new freedom in the world of technologies. RT has always been at the forefront of technology, which is why its channel is delivered not only via satellite, but also with cloud technology that allows it to be carried to the five continents.
How is the channel’s weekly programming made up?
The basis of our programming is the half-hour newscasts. In addition, we have documentaries, analysis, debate and travel programs.
How important is local content, produced in Latin America, within the channel’s programming?
Most of the programs are produced in Latin America. Despite the fact that the main studio is located in Moscow, RT en Español has ten correspondents both in the Americas and in Europe. The correspondents produce their materials on site, since the channel generally uses its own recordings to create original content. The production and search for stories to tell is also done on site.
Where does RT en Español have offices locally?
We have correspondents in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba, Mexico; two in the United States and one in the European Union.
How does RT en Español work through its social media accounts? What scope does the channel have in these new media?
RT en Español is one of the most renowned news channels in Latin America, in large part, thanks to the work carried out on social networks. As is known, RT broke the record for visits among news channels on YouTube, although in 2022 all of our accounts were deleted. Despite this, RT not only continues to work on other platforms such as Facebook or Instagram, but also develops its collaboration with networks such as VK, Odysee and Telegram.
On VK and Telegram, RT quickly took the lead among Spanish-speaking news channels. Additionally, on Facebook, RT en Español continues to rank first with almost 18 million followers, beating its main competitor, CNN en Español, by a 3 million margin. The RT account in Spanish on TikTok also holds the lead.
What are the challenges of running a channel like RT en Español in Latin America and in these times?
The most important thing is to love what you do and keep going despite everything. Nothing can stop RT en Español. We continue to grow, launching new projects and improving the quality of existing ones. We continue to implement the latest technologies: augmented reality, 3D and many others.
I am very grateful to the RT team for their sacrifice, creativity, and desire to be better. Our team consists of 350 journalists, filmmakers, cameramen and other employees from more than 20 countries. We learn from each other, we complement each other and we are always making progress. Leading a collective of talented people is a special privilege and pleasure.
How do you see the media business in Latin America?
Latin America is a very interesting market from all points of view. Despite being a channel from far away Russia, RT en Español considers itself a full participant in that market. And the most important thing is that our viewers believe so.
