Quick answer
Russian-speaking viewers in the US can watch independent Russian-language news for free online, for example TV Rain (Dozhd), which now broadcasts from Amsterdam on YouTube and its website, and Current Time, run by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Films, series, kids programmes and sports in Russian are spread across many apps. An IPTV service like TarakTV lists Russian-language entertainment, film, kids and sports channels people commonly look for in one app with US channels, from 15 dollars a month, with a free 24-hour trial. Several Russian state channels have had licences suspended in the EU since 2022, and we do not recommend them.
- About 1 million people in the US speak Russian at home (ACS 2019-2023).
- About 2.06 million Americans reported Russian ancestry, and about 424,000 residents were born in Russia (ACS 2024).
- The largest Russia-born populations are in California, New York, Florida, Illinois and New Jersey.
- Russian speakers in the US also come from Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Baltics and Israel.
- In December 2022 the EU began suspending licences of Channel One, Rossiya 1, NTV and REN TV.
Who watches Russian-language TV in the US
Russian is one of the most common non-English languages in American homes. The Census Bureau's American Community Survey counted about 1 million people aged 5 and over speaking Russian at home in 2019-2023.
The community is much wider than people from Russia. About 424,000 US residents were born in Russia in 2024, while many more Russian speakers came from Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Baltic states and Israel. Big communities live in New York, especially Brooklyn, and in California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey and the Pacific Northwest.
Because the audience is so mixed, families usually want different things: news from a particular country, Soviet-era films for grandparents, cartoons for kids, or football and hockey.
Free and official ways to watch
If news is your main interest, several independent Russian-language outlets are free online.
- TV Rain (Dozhd): independent channel that left Russia in 2022, now based in Amsterdam with a Dutch licence; streams on YouTube and its website.
- Current Time (Nastoyashchee Vremya): Russian-language channel run by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty from Prague; streams online.
- News channels from Ukraine, Israel, Kazakhstan and other countries also publish Russian-language content on YouTube.
- Streaming apps with Russian-language films and series exist, but catalogues and availability in the US vary.
A note on Russian state channels
Since 2022, several Russian state-controlled channels have faced restrictions in Europe. In its ninth sanctions package in December 2022, the EU began suspending the broadcasting licences of Channel One (Pervyi Kanal), Rossiya 1, NTV and REN TV, after earlier bans on other state outlets.
We aim to be neutral and practical. Many families simply want films, comedy, concerts, kids shows and sport in their own language. We do not recommend or promote state news channels, and our guide focuses on entertainment, independent news and channels from across the Russian-speaking world. Channel line-ups can change for legal and technical reasons.
What TarakTV offers Russian speakers
TarakTV is an IPTV subscription with live channels, a program guide and catch-up on supported channels. Russian-language categories people commonly look for include films and series, kids and cartoons, music, documentaries, sports, and channels from Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, the Caucasus and Israel.
You get these in the same app as US news, local channels and international sports, which suits households where children watch in English and grandparents watch in Russian.
TarakTV is not licensed by or partnered with any broadcaster, and we do not promise any particular channel. Use the free 24-hour trial to look through the guide before choosing a plan: 15 dollars a month, 130 dollars a year, 220 dollars for three years or 300 dollars for five years.
Time zones and catch-up
Moscow is 8 hours ahead of New York in winter and 7 hours ahead in summer, because Russia does not change its clocks. Minsk keeps the same time as Moscow, Kyiv is 7 hours ahead for most of the year, and Almaty and Tashkent are 9 to 10 hours ahead.
That means evening programmes from the region often air in the morning or early afternoon on the East Coast. Catch-up on supported channels lets you go back in the guide and play a show from the start when it suits you.
Devices, speed and setup tips
TarakTV works on Fire TV Sticks, Android-based Smart TVs, phones and tablets via the Cast4K player app, and on TVIP and Yoka TV boxes. TVIP boxes are popular with Russian-speaking families because they start straight into live TV and are easy for older relatives. We ship boxes to the US and Canada.
Plan on about 15 Mbps per TV for HD and about 25 Mbps for 4K. Use a wired Ethernet connection if hockey or football buffers on Wi-Fi.
- Set favourites for each family member's channels.
- Set the device clock to your local time zone so the guide lines up.
- Keep WhatsApp support handy; we can help in plain steps.
- Try the free trial in the evening, when the family actually watches.
Channels people look for
Line-ups change; ask for the current list or check during your free trial.
| Channel | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| TV Rain (Dozhd) | Independent news | Broadcasts from Amsterdam; free on YouTube |
| Current Time | Russian-language news | Run by RFE/RL from Prague |
| Russian-language film and series channels | Entertainment | Classic and modern films |
| Russian-language kids channels | Kids | Cartoons and children's shows |
| Ukrainian channels with Russian-language content | News and entertainment | See our Ukrainian TV guide |
| Israeli Russian-language channels | News and entertainment | Popular with families from Israel |
| Kazakh and Central Asian channels | General entertainment | Programming in Russian and local languages |
| Sports channels in Russian | Sports | Football, hockey, boxing and MMA |
Frequently asked questions
How can I watch Russian-language TV in the USA?
Independent news like TV Rain and Current Time is free online. For films, kids shows and sports in one place, an IPTV service like TarakTV lists Russian-language channels people commonly look for; test it with the free 24-hour trial.
How many people speak Russian in the US?
About 1 million people aged 5 and over spoke Russian at home in 2019-2023, according to the American Community Survey.
Are Russian state channels banned in the US?
Rules differ by country. The EU began suspending licences of Channel One, Rossiya 1, NTV and REN TV in December 2022. We do not recommend state news channels and focus on entertainment and independent news.
Where can I watch TV Rain (Dozhd)?
TV Rain broadcasts from Amsterdam and streams on YouTube and its official website.
What time difference is there with Moscow?
Moscow is 8 hours ahead of New York in winter and 7 hours ahead in summer. Use catch-up for evening shows.
Which box is easiest for grandparents?
A TVIP or Yoka TV box, which starts straight into live TV with a simple remote. We ship them to the US and Canada.
Sources
- ACS 2019-2023 5-year, B16001 Language Spoken at Home (Census Bureau)
- ACS 2024 1-year, B04006 People Reporting Ancestry (Census Bureau)
- ACS 2024 1-year, B05006 Place of Birth for the Foreign-Born Population (Census Bureau)
- EU suspends broadcasting licences of NTV, Rossiya 1, REN TV, Channel One (Interfax-Ukraine)
- TV Rain (Wikipedia)
- Current Time TV (Wikipedia)
TarakTV is an independent reseller and is not affiliated with the channels, leagues or broadcasters named on this page. Names are used only to describe what viewers look for. Check the rules where you live.