Disinfo: RT watched more than CNN and BBC on Youtube

Summary

RT is the first TV channel around the world to cross the 10 billion mark on YouTube! The RT channel network outperformed all global news channels, including BBC, CNN, Al Jazeera, Euronews and Fox News, after reaching 10 billion views on Youtube

Disproof

It is unclear what methodology RT has used to reach the claim that it is the most-watched TV channel on Youtube. Anything close to the 10 billion figure can only be achieved by adding up viewership of all RT services in all languages. If we apply the same methodology to the BBC and CNN, they will comfortably pass the 10 billion views mark. As of 12/02/2020, the CNN News network has reached, at the very least, 11 billion views, and this does not include the non-news services owned by the CNN such as HBO. As for the BBC, the Youtube views of BBC news services in only 14 languages (out of 27) were at least 14 billion in 12/02/2020. This also does not include content such as sports and children's entertainment. It is also not clear whether RT has included its non-news outlets/Youtube channels (e.g. RT Sport) to the 10 billion figure.

See a similar earlier case here.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 184
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 29/01/2020
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: UK, US, Russia
  • Keywords: Russia Today (RT), Mainstream media, YouTube, CNN, BBC, Media
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Disinfo: The coronavirus is a biological weapon created by the UK

The coronavirus 2019-nCoV is a biological weapon developed by the British, even if they pursued scientific goals.

On June 23, 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice granted scientists at the Pirbright Institute (formerly Animal Health Institute, England) the patent No. 10.130.701 for the invention of a “live attenuated coronavirus”. So, molecular biologists saw structural details similar to the 2019-nCoV on the electron microscope image of the “British invention”.

Disproof

Conspiracy theory. This is a pro-Kremlin narrative about the coronavirus and the "Anglo-Saxons".

In response to the outbreak of the corona virus the Chinese authorities have placed more than a dozen cities under quarantine. The World Health Organisation is working with Chinese authorities and global experts to learn more about the virus. The virus "2019-nCoV” comes from a family of viruses that include the common cold, and viruses such as SARS and MERS. There is no evidence to suggest it was developed artificially as a weapon of mass destruction.

Disinfo: Coronavirus targets exclusively one race

The China coronavirus is a genetic weapon, designed to target exclusively Mongoloids. The events in China are beneficial for the current US Administration, which seeks to bring Beijing to its knees. In a strange way, the start of the epidemic coincided with the final part of the negotiations between China and the United States on a trade agreement.

Disproof

Conspiracy theory. This is a pro-Kremlin narrative about the China coronavirus. In response to the outbreak of the corona virus the Chinese authorities have placed more than a dozen cities under quarantine. The World Health Organisation is working with Chinese authorities and global experts to learn more about the virus. The virus "2019-nCoV” comes from a family of viruses that include the common cold, and viruses such as SARS and MERS. There is no evidence to suggest it was developed artificially as a weapon of mass destruction. The conspiracy theory also refers the recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about US military biological labs circling Russia. See disinformation examples related to the Lugar lab in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Disinfo: Poland ran out of EU money; Poland's demands for reparations is just a tacky attempt to get money

This has become a global tradition. It all began with Ukraine, and has now passed to Poland. Ukraine started it all, dreaming up this concept of “Holodomor”, a genocide against the Ukrainian people. The Jews got reparations for the genocide, now we want it too… Poland had to go further. Poland’s out of EU money, so it is now demanding reparations from Russia and Germany. It all is based on a despicable, greedy attempt to make profits from what happened in Poland during WWII.

Disproof

A collection of unfounded pro-Kremlin narratives on historical revisionism, questioning the Holodomor and Poland's role in WWII. Poland has not demanded any reparations from Russia; the German reparations are an issue in the public debate, and a few parliament members support this idea, but it is definitely not an official Polish position.