The Walt Disney Company and Russian media company YUTV Holding have signed an agreement to establish a national channel in Russia using the Disney brand.
As part of the deal, Disney will acquire a 49% stake in the channel Semerki (‘Seven’), owned by YUTV, which will then be rebranded as Disney Channel.
The latter will be available to around 75% of Russian viewers, or 40 million households, broadcasting via its own network of stations in 54 Russian cities including Moscow and St Petersburg.
Disney has been present in Russia since 2006, while YUTV was formed in 2009 and lists Muz TV and Semerki among its assets.
