Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has signed a law that will ensure the free broadcasting of the 20 TV channels on the first and second multiplexes on the internet.
According to Vedomosti, there will be no need for a licence agreement between broadcasters and owners of audiovisual services as the distribution will be carried out on the basis of the law. Furthermore, there will be no payments made between broadcasters and distributors.
However, in order to ensure the technical possibility of broadcasting, the two will have to conclude contracts with an authorised organisation in which the level of foreign ownership will be limited to 20%. This will be overseen by the regulator Roskomnadzor.
Vedomosti notes that the law will come into effect on August 1 and rules for authorised services on October 1.
Although several organisations have put forward their names to become a single distributor for the 20 TV channels on the internet, the one most likely to be chosen is Vitrina TV, a joint venture between Channel One, VGTRK, National Media Group and Gazprom-Media.
