Russian TV takeover sparks protest

The journalists at NTV, which broadcasts nationwide, cancelled all entertainment programming from Wednesday in what they called an act of civil disobedience. NTV has been the subject of a vicious takeover battle, which the station's supporters say is aimed at silencing its independence voice, which is often critical of President Vladimir Putin. On Wednesday morning, NTV viewers saw a caption of white letters on the background of a broadcaster's chair in an empty studio. The caption said: "In protest at the illegal seizure of NTV, only news programmes will be broadcast." The station was broadcasting news bulletins every half hour. The white NTV logo at the bottom of the screen was covered with a red seal reading "Protest." Advertising was being broadcast normally. E-mail messages to its Web site were also flashed on screen. "NTV is cool" and "NTV will live!" were some of the messages. About 100 employees worked through the night at the station's studios at the Ostankino Tower broadcasting complex in northern Moscow. Staff barricaded one of the two entrances to the editorial offices.