Ananova:

The Russian government has suspended a TV company's programmes as punishment for broadcasting subliminal advertisements telling viewers not to change channel.

According to the Press Ministry, the split-second commercials - which appeared only as a flash to the conscious mind - told viewers: "Sit and watch only ATN".

The Avtorskiye Televisionniye Novosti TV company based in the Siberian city of Yekaterinburg broadcast the adverts this summer. They appeared as a flash every 25 film frames, The Moscow Times reports.

First Deputy Press Minister Mikhail Seslavinsky said the case was unique in Russian history. "No one has ever before been so impudent. The use of hidden messages that act upon the subconscious is forbidden by two separate laws."

Managers at ATN said they did not intend the message to be subliminal. Advertising manager Olga Deryabina said although the message was brief it could be read by the conscious mind.