The first episode of Julian Assange's new talk show is airing on the Kremlin's English-language satellite broadcaster, AP reported.

The WikiLeaks founder says he knows he'll be criticized for choosing RT, a broadcaster derided by some as Russian propaganda mouthpiece.

But in an interview broadcast ahead of the show he said he had full editorial control and insisted it was the best way to reach his audience.

Assange's lineup has not yet been made public but he has promised that his guests have told him things they "could not say on a mainstream TV network."

Assange remains under strict bail conditions at an undisclosed location in England while he fights extradition to Sweden on sex crime allegations.

The show is due to air at 1130GMT (7:30 a.m. EDT) Tuesday, April 17.