Further details have emerged of the deal between Russia’s Gazprom-Media and VGTRK (RTR), endorsed by President Putin, for the former to launch a new sports channel.
According to Kommersant, the acquisition by Gazprom-Media includes the Sportbox.ru, the most popular sports site in Russia.
Founded in 2007, Sportbox.ru gives viewers the opportunity to watch some sports programming shown by Rossiya 2 and Sport 1 free of charge.
It is managed by a separate company, named Sportboks, which Gazprom-Media will acquire.
Data produced by TNS Russia shows that the site had a monthly audience of 4.31 million in the 12-64 age group in May this year.
Under the terms of the deal between Gazprom-Media and VGTRK, as previously reported in Broadband TV News, Gazprom-Media will be given the frequency current used by Rossiya 2 to launch a free sports channel operated by the DTH platform NTV-Plus.
