2x2 (TV channel)
Encyclopedia
2×2 is Russia
's oldest private entertainment TV channel. Since 2007 it specializes in animated series.
.
Initially, 2×2 broadcast half-hour advertisement blocks, music clips and animations only, but by 1993 the channel began to air news programs. In 1993 the administration of 2×2 signed a contract with MTV Europe
to translate some programs. There was a peak of popularity in 1994-1995, but the channel was closed down in 1997.
2×2 returned to the airwaves on November 11, 2007. Since then, the channel specialized on adult-oriented cartoon series
, most of them American
and Japanese
programs. Only in 2009 it started broadcasting some live-action material as well.
and The Adventures of Big Jeff, claiming that the shows "promote violence and brutality, harm the psychic health and moral development of children, attack the social morality; all of this being a violation of license agreement". The department warned 2×2, which broadcast the shows, to remove them in order to avoid legal issues.
Later that year, activists of the Russian Pentecostalist Church
criticized 2×2 for airing South Park
and The Simpsons
. Their appeal to close 2×2 was rejected by the Russian media officials. On September 24, 2008 the channel's licence was extended for additional 5 years.
In July 2009 2×2 cut a scene from the episode "Free Willzyx
" of South Park which depicted Vladimir Putin
as "a greedy and desperate leader", prompting "criticism and furious discussion on Russia blogs".
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
's oldest private entertainment TV channel. Since 2007 it specializes in animated series.
History
Founded in 1989 and first aired on September 27, 1990, 2×2 became the first commercial television in the Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
Initially, 2×2 broadcast half-hour advertisement blocks, music clips and animations only, but by 1993 the channel began to air news programs. In 1993 the administration of 2×2 signed a contract with MTV Europe
MTV Europe
MTV Europe is a pan-European 24-hour entertainment cable and digital television network launched on August 1, 1987. Initially, the channel served all regions within Europe being one of the very few channels that targeted the entire European continent...
to translate some programs. There was a peak of popularity in 1994-1995, but the channel was closed down in 1997.
2×2 returned to the airwaves on November 11, 2007. Since then, the channel specialized on adult-oriented cartoon series
Cartoon series
A cartoon series is a set of regularly presented animated television programs with a common series title, usually related to one another. These episodes typically share the same characters and a basic theme...
, most of them American
Animation in the United States in the television era
Television animation developed from the success of animated movies in the first half of the 20th century. The state of animation changed dramatically in the four decades starting with the post-World War II proliferation of television...
and Japanese
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
programs. Only in 2009 it started broadcasting some live-action material as well.
Controversies and criticism
In February 2008 the Russian Media Culture Protection Department (Rossvyazohrankultura), a regulatory body for TV in Russia, issued warnings about Happy Tree FriendsHappy Tree Friends
Happy Tree Friends is an American Flash cartoon and made by Mondo Mini Shows, created and developed by Aubrey Ankrum Rhode Montijo Kenn Navarro and Warren Graff. The show has become a popular Internet phenomenon and it's since debut and has also won a cult following.As indicated on the official...
and The Adventures of Big Jeff, claiming that the shows "promote violence and brutality, harm the psychic health and moral development of children, attack the social morality; all of this being a violation of license agreement". The department warned 2×2, which broadcast the shows, to remove them in order to avoid legal issues.
Later that year, activists of the Russian Pentecostalist Church
Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism is a diverse and complex movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism in the Holy Spirit, has an eschatological focus, and is an experiential religion. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, the Greek...
criticized 2×2 for airing South Park
South Park
South Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
and The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
. Their appeal to close 2×2 was rejected by the Russian media officials. On September 24, 2008 the channel's licence was extended for additional 5 years.
In July 2009 2×2 cut a scene from the episode "Free Willzyx
Free Willzyx
"Free Willzyx" is the thirteenth episode of the ninth season of the animated television series South Park. It originally aired on Comedy Central in the United States on November 30, 2005...
" of South Park which depicted Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin served as the second President of the Russian Federation and is the current Prime Minister of Russia, as well as chairman of United Russia and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union of Russia and Belarus. He became acting President on 31 December 1999, when...
as "a greedy and desperate leader", prompting "criticism and furious discussion on Russia blogs".