Disney Channel Headed to Russian Free-to-Air TV

MOSCOW/BURBANK: The Walt Disney Company and UTH Russia have signed a deal to bring an ad-supported free-to-air Disney Channel to Russia early next year.

Under the terms of the deal, Disney will, through one of its subsidiaries, acquire a 49-percent share in the Seven TV network from UTH Russia. The new Disney Channel will replace the current branding and programming of Seven TV.

The channel will feature signature Disney programming, as well as original Russian content. At launch, the service will reach some 40 million households.

"International expansion is a key strategic priority for our company and Disney Channel has proven to be invaluable in building the Disney brand around the world," said Robert A. Iger, the president and CEO of The Walt Disney Company. "We are excited about increasing Disney Channel’s presence in Russia and delivering exceptional family entertainment to this important growth market."

"Disney Channel became one of the most popular and beloved cable channels in Russia," added Marina Jigalova-Ozkan, the managing director for The Walt Disney Company in Russia. "We are very happy that together with such a reliable and respectful partner as UTH Disney will bring high-quality family entertainment to every family in Russia."

Ivan Tavrin, the CEO of UTH Russia, commented: "We believe that our partnership with The Walt Disney Company, the global entertainment leader, will establish a popular and highly successful free-to-air business. The superb infrastructure and technical foundation of UTH in combination with Disney’s unique brand and global expertise will deliver excellent results for the Disney Channel in Russia. Seven TV’s transformation from sports to general entertainment in 2010 helped us to significantly improve its ratings and financial results, now it is time for a new page in the network’s history. I am confident about the success of the Disney Channel and our long term partnership with The Walt Disney Company."

Alisher Usmanov, a UTH shareholder and major Internet and media investor in Russia, said, "We expect the family channel combining the best Disney programming with original Russian TV shows will be of great interest to the audience. We are excited that our partner, one of the world’s largest media companies, believes in the Russian market and our company."