Russia’s State Duma and market participants appear to have reached a compromise on a draft law governing online video services.
According to Kommersant, the amendments include making a previously proposed 20% limit on foreign ownership only applicable to services whose audiences numbers are less than half Russian.
However, those whose Russian audience exceeds 50% will have no restrictions on foreign ownership. Previously, it was planned to introduce a 20% across-the-board limit on foreign ownership.
Significantly, search engines such as Yandex will no longer be classified as audiovisual services and therefore not be subject to the proposed new law.
Furthermore, those that are will be required to use audience measurement products approved by the regulator Roskomnadzor.
The proposed date for the second reading of the draft law is April 19, while the deadline for the law to come into effect is July 1.
