Netflix refuses to carry Russian state TV channels

Russian pressure to carry state-owned TV channels is not a factor. The 20 free state channels required by a Russian law will not be carried by the streaming service. The company has no plans to offer the programming in light of the current situation in Russia, a spokesman said.

The law requires audiovisual services with more than 100,000 subscribers to carry the channels. In December, the national regulator labeled the service as one of those. The measure has not been enforced yet, but there are concerns that it will soon.

If the law takes effect, we asked the company what it would do. It might not be afraid to leave Russia. The company doesn't have employees in the country, and it only made its service available in the country a year ago. It only started work on its first Russian original in May of 2021, according to a source for The Wall Street Journal. This may be more of a symbolic gesture.

It adds to a growing technology industry backlash. Due to a European Union ban, companies like Meta and Microsoft have restricted Russian outlets. Western tech firms aren't willing to spread Russia's official message after the invasion of Ukraine, and they're unafraid of retaliation from Russian President Putin's administration.