Absence of the 'Rada' TV channel on air
The 'Rada' TV channel has not aired on the telethon 'Unified News' since January 1, 2023. In previous days, on December 29-30, 2022, the channel also did not appear on air, and on December 31, 2022, it only aired with a summary news program. As of January 7, 2023, the 'Rada' TV channel still was not in its usual broadcasting slots.
Broadcast schedule and funding
Previously, the 'Rada' TV channel broadcasted:
- every Monday from 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM,
- every Tuesday from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM,
- every Wednesday from 6:00 PM to 12:00 AM.
It is important to note that over 1.5 billion UAH is allocated for the maintenance of the telethon in the state budget for 2026. Additional funding for the 'Unified News' telethon amounts to 109 million UAH.
The state enterprise 'Multimedia Platform of International Broadcasting of Ukraine' signed four new contracts with TV channels on December 16, 2025, for content creation for the telethon until the end of the year. Four contracts with TV channels were also signed in March 2022 for content creation for the 'Unified News' telethon in 2025 for a total amount of 738 million UAH. However, the Central Election Commission (CEC) recognized that the 'Unified News' telethon in its current format does not meet the standards for conducting an electoral campaign.
The absence of the 'Rada' TV channel on air during the 'Unified News' telethon may indicate changes in the country's media landscape, particularly regarding funding and content policy. Observing the developments, it can be noticed that state institutions, such as the CEC, have an influence on broadcasting formats, which may affect the information space in Ukraine. This highlights the importance of media compliance with standards and norms, especially in the context of electoral campaigns. Additional contracts for content creation indicate continued support for the telethon despite existing challenges.