Russia gets set for military TV
Russia is to introduce a military TV channel in an effort to improve its image and reduce the number of people trying to avoid conscription.
The defence ministry hopes that Zvezda, or Star, will start on February 23 next year and produce 18 hours a day of "military and patriotic" programming, a military source confirmed.
It is expected to provide army serials in which Russian special forces battle international terrorism. Sports, Soviet-era war films and scantily clad women are also expected to add to the patriotic entertainment.
Despite growing nationalism, this month's call-up is at a record low, with 9% of eligible citizens serving as conscripts. The rest avoid service through bribes or dubious ailments. The channel will aim to restore male pride and duty to military service.
Ruslan Zainetdinov, deputy to the editor of the defence ministry's TV studios, told the Ruski Kurier newspaper: "This channel will interest all people - not just the 1 million soldiers in Russia."
The defence ministry hopes that Zvezda, or Star, will start on February 23 next year and produce 18 hours a day of "military and patriotic" programming, a military source confirmed.
It is expected to provide army serials in which Russian special forces battle international terrorism. Sports, Soviet-era war films and scantily clad women are also expected to add to the patriotic entertainment.
Despite growing nationalism, this month's call-up is at a record low, with 9% of eligible citizens serving as conscripts. The rest avoid service through bribes or dubious ailments. The channel will aim to restore male pride and duty to military service.
Ruslan Zainetdinov, deputy to the editor of the defence ministry's TV studios, told the Ruski Kurier newspaper: "This channel will interest all people - not just the 1 million soldiers in Russia."
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