The Ukrainian channel 1+1 International has secured a broadcasting licence in Canada and is now preparing to launch on national pay-TV networks in the country.
Commenting on the development, Vladislav Svinchenko, the channel’s general producer, said that obtaining a Canadian licence was one of its strategic goals for this year.
Around 4% of the country’s population is of Ukrainian origin, and although fewer than 130,000 are Ukrainian speakers this is still a very large number.
By comparison, some 80,000-100,000 viewers watch Russian pay-TV channels in the US.
Svinchenko also said there is an audience for Ukrainian channels abroad among Russian speakers.
