Indian TV Channel to Broadcast in Russia

VLADIVOSTOK. May 1. VOSTOK MEDIA – By the end of this year Zee TV, the largest Indian television channel will start broadcasting in Russian on the basis of a satellite or cable network.
This is the first case when a foreign broadcasting company penetrates the Russian market directly, not through a distributor. The owners of the company are not concerned about the fact that the controlling interest should belong to the Russian side. The investments in project launching will account for nearly $7 million.
The Kommersant newspaper reports that Zee TV has been broadcasting in India since 1992. Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEE) company is the owner of the channel. This company owns 14 channels, Zee Telefilms Production Company and Zee record Recording Company. In 2007 the company’s revenue was $369 million; net profit was $58 million. Zee TV has already been presented in Russia. Kosmos TV broadcasts this channel in Hindi. The Russian version will broadcast Indian films and TV programs about India. The programs for Russian version will be shot in Zee TV studio in Bollywood in Russian. The planned amount of investments in Zee TV Russia is nearly $l7 million for the first year.
Experts forecast that this channel will be popular in Russia. This opinion is confirmed by the successful experience of India TV channel which was launched in July 2006 by Russian Red Media. Today this channel has audience of 7 million.