Warner Bros. has banned the channels operated by Russia’s National Media Group (NMG) from broadcasting its films.
This, according to Kommersant, quoting the film distributor’s bulletin, is despite the fact that the licensing agreements are in place for another year and a half.
It adds that the channels operated by NMG include Channel One, STS, Ren TV and Channel Five, plus several cable-delivered services.
Kommersant in addition points out that Kirill Kovachuk, the president of NMG, was placed under US sanctions in 2016. Bank Rossiya, one of NMG’s shareholders, was sanctioned in 2014 and again this year.
Warner Bros., Disney, Sony, Paramount and Universal Studios all stopped licensing in Russia following the country’s invasion of Ukraine. Their films accounted for around 80% of the Russian market.
