RTR Planeta USA is one of the few Russian-language general channels that reaches American living rooms. Its brand of General TV for the United States is unapologetically mainstream, and that's exactly what makes it interesting. The schedule runs the gamut from state-adjacent news bulletins to glossy prime-time melodramas and throwaway game shows. I'll be honest: the talk shows feel like they were taped in a time warp, with set designs that scream the early 2000s. But the films are a different story. Russian cinema's current wave, including tense thrillers and historical dramas, gets solid play. There are also music specials and variety shows that hold up better than you'd expect. To watch RTR Planeta USA online, Tvivu carries the live stream plus a catch-up library. If you tune in to RTR Planeta USA live, you're tapping into a cultural lifeline for the Russian diaspora. For outsiders, it's a fascinating peek behind the curtain of Russian popular culture. The news may frustrate you with its officialdom, but the entertainment is often genuinely fun. Don't expect American production values. Expect a distinctly Russian rhythm. That's the appeal.