AM radio stations in Washington D.C. and Kansas City, MO are under fire for opting to continue to carry Radio Sputnik, the English-language format with Kremlin ties.
On Tuesday, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) released a statement opposing Russian-sponsored programming after Russia launched a full-scale attack against Ukraine last week.
According to Inside Radio, Radio Sputnik paid D.C.’s WZHF’s owner Multicultural Radio Broadcasting $722,287 last year to air the Russian state-owned news agency 24-hours a day; meanwhile, in Kansas City, KCXL received $100,217 for its six hours per day.
“One of the fundamental rights that Ukraine is fighting for is freedom of speech and freedom from censorship, and RM Broadcasting is dedicated to the unfettered exchange of information and ideas,” said Arnold Ferolito, a broker from RM Broadcasting, in a statement to the website.
WZHF and KCXL lease the time to Rossiya Segodnya through the broker RM Broadcasting.
The NAB’s criticism of Russian-affiliated programming comes as more than 300 broadcasters gathered this week in Washington to meet with lawmakers as part of the annual State Leadership Conference.
