The Da Vinci Channel Gets Russian Treatment

STOCKHOLM: Viasat Broadcasting has entered into a joint venture with Da Vinci Media to launch a Russian version of the Da Vinci Learning channel in Russia and CIS countries.

Da Vinci Learning is a knowledge and education channel that launched in Poland in 2007. The channel has since expanded to Romania, Turkey, Hungary, Ukraine, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Macedonia. The JV with Viasat will see the creation, operation and distribution of a Russian version of the channel in Russia and CIS countries such as Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

"The Da Vinci channel is strengthening and complementing our already strong portfolio of pay-TV channels broadcast in the Russian language," said Irina Gofman, the CEO of MTG Russia and head of Viasat Broadcasting’s operations in the region. "Da Vinci is providing the best science and knowledge TV programs from across the globe."

"I am delighted to work with Viasat Broadcasting, with its long experience and excellent track record," added Ferdinand Habsburg, the founder of Da Vinci Media. "They are the perfect partner for us for entering the Russian-speaking countries. We look forward to continue to build the success story of Da Vinci Learning and our mission to provide entertaining and enthralling learning, with a Russian version in a joint venture with Viasat. We expect that an entertaining and educational TV channel will appeal to Russian viewers, as Russia has a long tradition of learning and science."