CTC Expands to North America

MOSCOW: CTC Media is launching an international version of its CTC channel in North America through DISH Network, which reaches 13.6 million subscribers.

The channel will be a 24-hour family entertainment service with a programming grid primarily of CTC shows, 80 percent, with the rest coming from Domashny and DTV. The lineup will include Margosha, Daddy’s Girls, Ranetki, Cadets, I Want to Believe! and Say What’s Wrong, among others.

Anton Kudryashov, the CEO of CTC Media, commented: "The international launch is an important and long-awaited step for us. We have chosen the North American market as the first target for our international expansion due to its significant potential. Moreover, we are confident that there are no comparable offerings among the Russian-language broadcasters in the U.S. In the future, we are also planning to launch an international version of CTC on other broadcasting platforms in the U.S. as well as in Europe, where Russian content will be popular with viewers."

"DISH Network is thrilled to become the exclusive satellite platform provider of CTC programming in the U.S.," said Dave Shull, the senior VP of programming for DISH Network Corporation. "Adding a premium family entertainment channel of such high quality to our already fantastic lineup of Russian programming allows DISH Network to offer our subscribers the most diverse Russian programming options in the country."

Irina Shalinets, the director of the international broadcasting department at CTC Media, added: "We are providing viewers with a combination of the highest-rated content of three Russian networks—CTC, Domashny and DTV—which we believe will be very appealing. We hope that, by the winter holidays, all Russian-speaking audiences in the U.S. will be tuning in to the new world of family entertainment made possible by CTC."