Figure 1.-- A Soviet TV serial entitled "Nikolay Vavilov" was broadcast in 1990. One scene from the shows shows a a squad of Young Pioneers that participated in the Young Naturalists program (Yunnaty). They are shown participating in the opening ceremonies of the the annual meeting of the USSR Agricultural Sciences Academy (VASHNIL) in 1938. Vavilov was a notable botonist that ran afoul of Stalin.

We do not know yet when the Soviet Union began television broadcasting, certainly after World War II. The Soviet Government and Communist Party totally dominated Russian television from its inception after World War II. All Soviet television and radio production was the responsibility of a federal cabinet-level agency--the State Committee for TV and Radio (Gosteleradio). Gosteleradio included two different types of channels. There were both national channels originating in Moscow and regional channels covering republics and various specific localities. Gosteleradio produced five full-time channels. Channel 1 and Channel 2 were broadcast throughout the Soviet Union. Channel 4 was the educational channel which was broadcast in European Russia and the Ukraine. Moscow and Leningrad (St. Petersburg, the two most important Soviet cities, had their own individual stations. The St. Petersburg channel was available throughout the European area of the Soviet Union. The Moscow channel broacasted in the Moscow oblast. Each of the 14 non-Russian republics had its own Gosteleradio, which broadcast regional programming over many different regional channels. While the national standards broadcasted in Russian, the regional channels had many programs in the local languages. Theoretically the regional channels were capble of tailoring their programming to the different ethnic and national audiences. Soviet viewers, however reportedly found the regionl programming to be unimaginative. Most preferred the national broadcasts--Channels 1 or 2. Even the national programming was not very exciting. This changed somewhat with Glanost and even more after the dissolution of the Soviet Union at the end of 1991. We have very few details on actual proframming. One Russian reader has mentioned "The Adventures of Eleckta" which showed how Sovit children dressed in the 1980s.

Broadcast History

We do not know yet when the Soviet Union began television broadcasting, certainly after World War II. Presumably Soviet citizens began getting TV sets in the 1950s.

State Control

The Soviet Government and Communist Party totally dominated Russian television from its inception after World War II. All Soviet television and radio production was the responsibility of a federal cabinet-level agency--the State Committee for TV and Radio (Gosteleradio). Gosteleradio included two different types of channels.

Channels

There were both national channels originating in Moscow and regional channels covering republics and various specific localities. Gosteleradio produced five full-time channels. Channel 1 and Channel 2 were broadcast throughout the Soviet Union. Channel 4 was the educational channel which was broadcast in European Russia and the Ukraine. Moscow and Leningrad (St. Petersburg), the two most important Soviet cities, had their own individual stations. The Lenningrad channel was available throughout the European area of the Soviet Union. The Moscow channel broacasted in the Moscow oblast. Each of the 14 non-Russian republics had its own Gosteleradio, which broadcast regional programming over many different regional channels. While the national standards broadcasted in Russian, the regional channels had many programs in the local languages. Theoretically the regional channels were capble of tailoring their programming to the different ethnic and national audiences. Soviet viewers, however reportedly found the regionl programming to be unimaginative. Most preferred the national broadcasts--Channels 1 or 2. Even the national programming was not very exciting. This changed somewhat with Glanost and even more after the dissolution of the Soviet Union at the end of 1991.

Specific Programs

We have very few details on actual Soviet programming. These are programs that are essentially unknown in the West. Relatively little is known about Soviet films. Virtually nothing is known about Soviet television. Hopefully our Russian readers will provide us information on programs that they remember. We now know od a few programs, but hope to add additional programs as HBC expands. These programs can privide interesting insights not only about clothing and fashion, but also Soviet cultural trends. This is one of those topics that evedn readers who do not know a lot about economics, history, and other academic subjects covered by HBC can easily submit information.

Created: 3:59 AM 12/7/2008
Last updated: 10:45 PM 9/27/2009