Three channels operated by Viacom have had their status radically changed in Russia.
According to RBC and AKTR, this follows the award of terrestrial licences to Nickelodeon, Paramount Comedy and VHI Europe by the regulator Roskomnadzor.
Although the licences cover only one location – the city of Slavyansk na Kunbani in the Krasnodar region – it means that they are no longer subject to the restrictions on advertising imposed on pay-TV channels since 2015.
Since then, there have until now only been two instances in which foreign companies – Discovery and MTG’s Viasat – have obtained the right to carry advertising.
However, in each case they have had to enter into a partnership with Russia’s National Media Group (NMG) in which the latter holds a majority (80%) stake.
