March 24 (Bloomberg) -- A Russian television station censored jokes about President Vladimir Putin and his successor, Dmitry Medvedev, from its broadcast of the equivalent of the Oscars movie awards show, Moskovsky Komsomolets reported.

Privately owned TV station STS cut out satirical comments by a Russian film academy official about speculation that Medvedev will play a subordinate role to Putin, who plans to become prime minister, the Moscow-based newspaper said.

Last weekend's broadcast of the Nika awards, which was shown a day after the ceremony took place, also left out a spoof film clip that showed Putin as the czar and Medvedev as his son, the newspaper said.

Natalia Myshkina, head of sales at STS, which focuses on entertainment programs and is the fourth-most-watched channel in Russia, said its policy is to be ``nonpolitical.'' The station cut 90 minutes from the four-hour event, she said by telephone, declining to specify what was cut.

To contact the reporter on this story: Henry Meyer in Moscow at Hmeyer4@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: March 24, 2008 10:40 EDT