Historical Background

Television and radio broadcasting means transmission and reception of audio and visual information with the use of electromagnetic waves. In this country, radio broadcasting has started taking the initial steps in its development, when in 1895 the scientist Aleksander Popov has demonstrated a device for wireless transmission of radio signals at the meeting of the Russian Physical and Chemical Society.

Decree for organization of the People’s Commissariat of Post Service and Telegraphs was adopted in 1918, and first wireless station, Shukhov Tower, which began regular radio broadcasts, appeared as early as in May 1922 at Shabolovka street of Moscow city.
In Soviet Union, Lev Termen was engaged in experiments in the field of “electric foresight“. In his thesis project in 1926, student of Petrograd Polytechnic Institute had presented working model of television set with mechanical apportionment of 64 lines. Government was interested in foresight and the technology has been gradually put in place. The official birthday of the Soviet television is deemed to be October 01, 1931, when small radio rebroadcasting studio of the People’s Commissariat began regular television broadcasts.

Within a very short time, phenomenon of television and radio broadcasting became very popular across the population, when in 1935 the Government takes decision on construction of the first Moscow TV Center. In 1938, it was put into operation. From that moment regular broadcasting of one program began in the capital city and neighboring regions of Moscow Area. Mean radius of reliable reception of television signal had reached 60 km.
Regardless of successful operation of Moscow TV Center at Shabolovka, in 1953 panel of specialists in the field of radio broadcasting had proposed an initiative for construction of new large All-Nation TV Center in Moscow city consisting of 15-20 studios of various purpose. Simultaneously, it was proposed to create new powerful radio broadcasting station with antenna support of at least 500 meters and pickup range of 100-120 km. This proposal was approved by the Government, and on July 15, 1955 the Council of Ministers of USSR had signed the Decree Nr. 1271 “On reconstruction of Moscow Television Center”, which had determined its fate.
Initially, lot in the South-West of Moscow city in “Cheryemushki“ District was provided for construction of the television tower, however in March 1959, building site had moved to Ostankino: initially to park n/a Dzerzhinskiy, and afterwards – at the territory of Ostankino Forest Nursery of the Administration for Provision of Urban Amenities. Nikolay Vasilyevich Nikitin was assigned as the chief constructor.

On November 5, 1967, Ostankino TV Tower was put into operation, however construction works continued until December 26, 1968. Finally, decoration of three levels of the restoration complex “7th Heaven” was finished and first visitors came up the tower.
From this moment, Shukhov Tower terminates its broadcasting activity, merely remaining a monument of architecture.

Ostankino TV Tower starts participating in international cooperation processes. Being founding member of the World Federation of Great Towers founded in 1989 and recently comprising 54 participants, it actively develops relations with other tall structures in the world, thus allowing it follow trends of global innovations in the field of engineering and technical operation, advanced security systems, excursion and entertainment activity, etc.
In recent times, Ostankino TV Tower is operated by the Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Network (RTRS) and remains a non-compatible flagship of the national television and radio broadcasting. It keeps up to the times by adapting of the most advanced digital broadcasting technology and enabling residents of Moscow city and Moscow Area to watch TV programs in HD format. Availability of wide range of opportunities for implementation of various projects, including commercial ones, allows saying that activity of the company is a hybrid of traditional state management and modern multiple profile management, which is an important distinctive feature and main advantage of Moscow Regional Center.