Part of the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase which catalyzes the transcription of viral DNA into RNA using the four ribonucleoside triphosphates as substrates. Responsible for the transcription of early, intermediate and late genes. DNA-dependent RNA polymerase associates with the early transcription factor (ETF) thereby allowing the early genes transcription. Late transcription, and probably also intermediate transcription, require newly synthesized RNA polymerase (By similarity). a ribonucleoside 5'-triphosphate + RNA(n) = diphosphate + RNA(n+1) The DNA-dependent RNA polymerase used for intermediate and late genes expression consists of eight subunits 147 kDa, 133 kDa, 35 kDa, 30 kDa, 22 kDa, 19 kDa, 18 kDa and 7 kDa totalling more than 500 kDa in mass. The same holoenzyme, with the addition of the transcription-specificity factor RAP94, is used for early gene expression (By similarity). All the enzymes and other proteins required to synthesize early mRNAs are packaged within the virion core along with the DNA genome. This is necessary because viral early mRNAs are synthesized within minutes after virus entry into the cell and are extruded through pores in the core particle (By similarity). Belongs to the poxviridae DNA-directed RNA polymerase 35 kDa subunit family.