Laas Leivat
In general Western observers have agreed that RT is part of a Kremlin controlled drive to undermine unity within the EU and NATO, to weaken faith in Western governments, to gain credibility for it’s own broadcasting etc.
Outsiders and the organization itself asserts that RT has a substantial potential reach among target audiences internationally and a penetration that can’t be dismissed offhand.
But impact, effectiveness? If ratings are a guide a conclusive answer is not possible. With its self-proclaimed mission to present the Russian viewpoint to foreign audiences RT claims (inconsistently) to reach 550 million people world-wide. with American and British as its most successful markets.
RT’s theoretical worldwide reach is impressive but how truly ubiquitous is its presence? It’s embarrassingly obvious why RT has never released that total. In a Nielsen 2015 survey of the top 94 cable channels in the US, RT did not have a high enough presence to make it into the rankings. According to the British Broadcast Audience Research Board RT had captured fully 0.04% of viewers.
(Pikemalt Eesti Elu 22.03.2019 paberlehes)
