AXN SCI-FI in 3-Million-Plus Households in Russia & CIS

LONDON/MOSCOW: The science-fiction channel AXN SCI-FI is now available in more than 3 million households across Russia and the countries of CIS, with Sony Pictures Television (SPT) having notched up a slew of carriage agreements since the network’s December 2007 launch.

SPT has struck up deals for AXN SCI-FI throughout Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan on systems such as NTV Plus, Akado, Comstar OTS, Multiregion, ER Telecom, Stream and other smaller operators, reaching into Moscow, St. Petersburg, Ekaterinburg, Perm, Penza, Novosibirsk, Rostov, Saratov and Ufa. The channel’s schedule features popular series such as the Stargate and Star Trek franchises, Eureka, The 4400, Reaper, Supernatural and Smallville, as well as the worldwide hit Lost, which is currently airing on AXN SCI-FI in its sixth and final season.

“AXN SCI-FI continues to gain momentum in Russia and the CIS countries, which are increasingly important markets for us,” commented Ross Hair, the executive VP of international networks at SPT. “We are delighted with the response we’ve had from pay-TV operators, viewers and advertisers alike—for whom the AXN SCI-FI brand resonates strongly—and are committed to providing the best in science fiction entertainment to audiences in the region.”