Modern Times Group (MTG)-backed Russian DTH platform Raduga TV is facing the prospect of criminal proceedings initiated by the federal executive authority Roskomanadzor.
In a statement, Roskomnadzor says that Raduga TV is operating without a licence and there are “substantial grounds for a criminal case under Article 171 of the Criminal Code”.
It adds that this summer its territorial administration, during an audit of DalGeoKom, found a violation of Art 31 of the Russian media law, dated December 27, 1991.
The company had no broadcast licence to distribute satellite TV channels using limited radio frequency resources.
DalGeoKom was then given a month to eliminate violations but failed to comply. It was then fined R40,000 (€ ) after a ruling by the Moscow Arbitration Court on October 25.
Roskomanadzor now says that in accordance with the federal mass media law DalGeoKom should issue its own licence or enter into contracts with broadcasters.
At the same, it can only have a licence for satellite broadcasting using limited radio frequencies by winning a competition for such frequencies organized by the Federal Tender Broadcasting Commission.
Raduga TV was launched in 2009 and ended last year with 421,000 subscribers.
It is jointly owned and controlled by MTG and Continental Media S.A.
