Outdoor Channel Expands Reach in Russia

LONDON: Outdoor Channel has debuted in Russia on the country’s two largest platforms, satellite-TV operator NTV-PLUS and OnLime, which is owned by Russia’s National Cable Networks (NCN).

The channel offers a mix of programming surrounding outdoor pursuits, action and adventure, including fishing, hunting and off-road driving, all shot in HD. The Russian premiere of the channel follows its debut via satellite in Scandinavia last month and its launch on Orbit Showtime Network in the Middle East last year.

Sergey Kalugin, the general director of National Cable Networks, said: “We are watching closely that our packages of digital television OnLime include only the best channels. We are not in pursuit of quantity; we give to our subscribers only carefully selected content. For this reason OnLime is the first among Moscow operators who broadcasts Outdoor Channel in HD. We are sure the channel will be a perfect addition to OnLime HD-package.”

Tim MacMullen, Chello Zone’s general manager for Outdoor Channel, said: “The launch of Outdoor Channel on NCN and NTV-PLUS in Russia further expands the channel’s footprint across EMEA and marks another stage in our plans to make it available to a global audience. Outdoor Channel has already proved to be a success in Scandinavia where it debuted last month on TeliaSonera and, with access to TV’s largest outdoor programming library, we are confident that viewers in Russia will enjoy its outstanding line-up of high quality shows.”