Netflix to defy Russian regulations by refusing to air state TV channels in the country

Streaming giant Netflix is refusing to stream a series of Russian State TV channels that it would have been required to carry under Russian law, starting this week.

The Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology, and Mass Media (or Roskomnadzor) is responsible for monitoring the country's social media and audiovisual services. They require all platforms with over 100,000 subscribers to make 20 state-funded channels available to Russian viewers. These news and entertainment channels are reportedly aligned with the agenda of high level Kremlin authorities.

Netflix still has less than one million Russian subscribers, after launching in the country a little over one year ago. But the streaming service still falls under the Russian law to distribute state-backed channels. Netflix is currently the only US based streaming service that has reached the subscriber threshold of the regulation.

On Monday, a spokesperson for Netflix announced that in light of Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine the company has “no plans to add these channels to our service".

Netflix is not the only company taking action against Russia. On Monday, FIFA suspended all Russian football teams and clubs. Disney, Sony, and Warner Bros have paused all theatrical releases in Russia.