MIPCOM Sets Focus on Russia

PARIS: Russia has been selected as the country of focus for MIPCOM this October, with Reed MIDEM partnering with Channel One Russia and Red Square for the initiative.

The Focus on Russia program, which will also see the participation of Saint Petersburg-based Riki group, producers of Kikoriki, intends to shine a spotlight on a market that is now home to more than 330 channels, says Laurine Garaude, television division director. "Cable revenues are now in excess of 723 million euros, satellite broadcasting is growing fast, as is the transition to digital broadcasting which is on schedule to reach 95 percent of the population by 2015. President Dmitry Medvedev has set a goal for all Russian citizens to have access to at least 26 digital television channels by 2015. The Focus on Russia will provide a unique opportunity for the international television industry at MIPCOM to discover the best of Russian content and also increase its understanding of this important market for international entertainment programs and co-productions."

Ilya Krivitsky, chief creative officer of Red Square, a leading Russian production company, added, “We’ve been attending the MIP markets for many years, but now the time is perfect to showcase the Russian television and media industry to the world. Russia has become an integral part of the global television industry, producing world class programming, adapting international formats for the domestic Russian audience and offering original programming for the international market.”