It started broadcasting in October 2006 as the video version of Russkoye Radio.
[1] In several Russian cities—Derbent, Domodedovo, Kaspiysk, Kyzyl, Perm, Simferopol and Makhachkala—RU.TV is on broadcast analog frequencies.
Since the channel was carrying commercials before they were banned on broadcast television at the beginning of 2015, it is allowed to continue doing so.
When it went live in 2009 it was carried on Akado; a year later it moved to National Cable Networks.
RU.TV partners with Labytnangi-TV in that city, PTK-Avto in Perm and MTV POBEGAILO in Slavgorod.