Vladimir Pozner's television programs are very popular. In his conversations with popular people, the journalist touches on sometimes very sensitive topics and raises issues of concern to all residents of Russia. This, obviously, was one of the reasons that forced the leadership of Channel One to deliver a kind of ultimatum to Pozner. The TV presenter had to make a difficult choice.
The main project in which the famous Russian journalist takes part is the Pozner program, which has been broadcast on Channel One for about four years in a row. However, Vladimir Pozner decided to expand his participation in television programs, and since April 2012, a new program, Parfenov and Pozner, has appeared on the Dozhd TV channel. Two presenters and their guests discuss in the studio the main events of the past week, express their opinions, and debate. The format of the program does not differ from most other similar television projects.
The guests of the Parfenov and Posner program were well-known politicians and public figures, among whom there were those whom, for certain reasons, we would hardly have seen on the air of Channel One. These are blogger Alexei Navalny, editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta Vladimir Muratov, former candidate for mayor of Astrakhan Oleg Shein.
On the air of the program on the Dozhd channel, Pozner admitted that Channel One does not allow him to invite Alexei Navalny to the Pozner program. Obviously, Posner's participation in the program, to which the opposition leader Navlny was invited, was the reason for the demand made by the leadership of Channel One. The essence of the ultimatum was that Vladimir Pozner was asked to end cooperation with the Dozhd TV channel or to part with his own project, Pozner. This information was posted on Posner's Twitter blog.
Vladimir Pozner said that he had made his choice and remained with his program on Channel One. The Interfax news agency notes that this practice is quite widespread throughout the world, and few journalists manage to simultaneously work on two channels. Obviously, with the departure of Posner from the Dozhd channel, the Parfenov and Posner program will cease to exist. Dozhd's management expressed its regret over the forced departure of Vladimir Pozner from this channel.
