Russian regional broadcasters are being discouraged from seeking carriage on what will be the country’s second and third DTT multiplexes.
Instead, according to AKTR and ComNews, they are being encouraged by the Ministry of Communications and Mass Communications to use other distribution platforms such as DVB-H and IPTV, something the regional broadcasters strongly oppose.
Indeed, they have even gone one stage further by suggesting that they should be given a channel on the first multiplex, which has already been fully allocated to Russia’s leading stations.
The regional broadcasters believe they would secure additional ad revenues through DTT distribution, though the Russian ad market is only just starting to recover from the downturn, with TV spend this year expected to total $5 billion (€4.08 billion).
IPTV operators such as VimpelCom are meanwhile said to be keen to work with regional broadcasters.
About Chris Dziadul
"In an industry that experiences rapid change and often a confusing subsequent
constant supply of news, it is often refreshing to read an insightful perspective. Broadband
TV News and its editorial team regularly provide a context and
helpful analysis to breaking news.”
Broadband TV News is the must-read publication for those working in the Business of the Multiscreen Television. We deliver news, insight and data direct to your desktop. As well as our constantly updated website you can sign-up to our Daily and Weekly email bulletins. 
Connected TV Forecasts NEW REPORT. The number of TV sets connected to the Internet will reach 551 million by 2016 for the 40 countries covered in this report from Digital TV Research, up from 124 million at end-2010. The report states that this translates to 20% of global TV sets by 2016, up from only 6% at end-2010. Published in November 2011, this 83-page PDF report is the most geographically comprehensive to ever be published.