The ownership of the TV tower lies with the Moscow Regional Center, a division of the Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Network (RTRN).

Under favorable weather conditions, the Ostankino TV Tower can be seen by residents of certain cities in the Moscow Region, including Balashikha, Voskresensk, Zelenograd, Korolev, Krasnogorsk, Lyubertsy, Mytishchi, Odintsovo, Podolsk, Khimki, and Shchyolkovo.

During that era, the "wicker" tower located on Shabolovka Street was widely regarded as an extraordinary feat of engineering ingenuity.

Originally designed primarily for radio signal transmission, the tower found itself adapting to the emergence of television broadcasting in the late 1930s.

Numerous engineers, including Nikolai Nikitin, a member of the competition committee and an expert in reinforced concrete and metal structures, came up with an alternative idea.

He suggested building the tower out of reinforced concrete, citing a successful similar project in Stuttgart that had been completed two years prior, in 1956.

Nikitin later asserted that he had conceived the project overnight, and the prototype for the cone-shaped foundation of the tower was inspired by the upside-down lilium flower, known for its robust petals and sturdy stem, which the engineer had envisioned in his dream just days before the deadline for submitting sketches.

His design was inspired by the work of scientist Yuri Kondratyuk in the 1930s, who had envisioned a thin and hollow concrete structure for a wind farm on Mount Ai-Petri in the Crimea.

Kondratyuk successfully designed a 165-meter structure and took precautions by reinforcing it with steel cables to ensure its stability against strong winds.

It is uncertain whether Nikolai Nikitin was acquainted with these sketches, but the base of the structure bears a striking resemblance to the Ostankino TV tower.

Nikolai Nikitin suggested constructing a 540-meter rocket, but the proposed tower had minimal foundation, with only a 4.6-meter base underground.

The center of gravity can be compared to the Soviet toy called Nevalashka, which means that the structure can sway in strong winds.

Moreover, the balconies and trunk of the tower efficiently housed equipment for radio relay lines, mobile television stations, radiotelephone communications, special services facilities, and a meteorological complex.

Although the observation deck resumed operations with pilot tours on March 27, 2008, the restaurant remained closed as it continued its reconstruction efforts.

[8] On 27 August 2000, a devastating blaze not only engulfed the restaurant "Seventh Sky," but also caused extensive damage to the entire structure.

The fire initially broke out at a height of 460 meters, or approximately 98 metres (322 ft) above the observation platform and the Seventh Heaven restaurant, around 3 o'clock in the afternoon.

The aftermath of the fire had far-reaching consequences, as the entire city of Moscow was left without television reception, with additional disruption to radio signals.

The substantial loss incurred was primarily attributed to the outdated and inadequately maintained electronic equipment, a significant portion of which had been installed during the 1960s.

[9] As a result of the fire, television broadcasts in Moscow and the surrounding areas were mostly disrupted, except for the privately owned NTV station.

[12][13] The fire was the third disaster in Russia in a month, following an explosion in Moscow's Pushkinskaya Metro Station (which killed 12 people and injured 150), and the sinking of the submarine Kursk in the Barents Sea, in which 118 died.

The new elevators travel at a speed of 6 metres per second (20 ft/s)[16] The tower remained inaccessible to visitors until its reconstruction was fully completed in 2008, marking the reopening of the structure's observation decks.

The current restaurant within the tower's premises bears little resemblance to its Soviet-era counterpart or the establishment that existed prior to the fire.

[18] On 1 July 2004, Austrian BASE jumper Christina Grubelnik collided with the tower, resulting in a concussion and causing her to lose consciousness.

[19][20][21] In 2006, representatives of the Ministry of Emergency Situations assured that a significant fire incident at the Ostankino Tower would no longer occur as there were no combustible materials remaining within the structure.

The CPS inductive power transmission system was provided by the reputable German company Paul Vahle GmbH & Co. KG.

The fire of 2000 caused extensive damage to the interiors of "Seventh Sky" and its reconstruction was significantly delayed for a period of 16 years.

Initially, the project faced challenges in securing an investor, and subsequently, the implementation of safety regulations by the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations posed an obstacle as it limited the number of visitors to a maximum of 50 in the tower at any given time.

These included the installation of new water fire extinguishing systems, treatment of all metal structures with fireproofing compounds, replacement of exterior cladding and old double-glazed windows with newer ones.

Additionally, significant renovations were done on the ventilation system, air conditioning, water supply, and other related aspects in the restaurant.

On 27 April 1967, the flag of the USSR was placed on top of the tower and was regularly replaced twice a year, for May Day and 7 November.