Gazprom-Media, the leading diversified media holding in Russia and Eastern Europe, has announced the launch of paid TV on the Georgian market. The operator NTV-PLUS, which is part of the holding, has expanded the territory for offering its services and started broadcasting in Georgia under the brand NTV-PLUS. Thus, NTV-PLUS became the first domestic operator of digital and satellite TV that will operate outside the Russian Federation under its own brand.
Viewers will be offered a choice of two channel packages. The first includes around 50 satellite channels of Russian and foreign production, the second - more than 90.
More than 20 channels that are presented on the NTV-PLUS platform are channels of Gazprom-Media’s own production. Viewers will have access to 22 entertainment, 14 educational, 12 informational, five sport, five children’s, five musical and 27 film channels, which include two channels in the UltraHD format and five channels in the HD format. Subscribers will also be able to watch all the general Georgian TV channels.
NTV-PLUS’ partner in the initiative is Media Group, which sells equipment, offers technical support and promotes the product on Georgia’s territory.
“Gazprom-Media already has positive experience of collaborating with the Georgian Media Group, which is the exclusive distributor of more than 20 of the holding’s own television channels. The potential of this partnership is supported by the significant demand for our media content abroad. Gazprom-Media has unique expertise in its production, delivery and distribution. This creates the foundation for successful cooperation,” said Dmitry Chernyshenko, CEO of Gazprom-Media.
Mikhail Dyomin, general manager of NTV-PLUS: “Geographical expansion is one of our strategic priorities. Georgia is a promising market without a doubt, but we are considering the start of broadcasting in Georgia not only as a business case. For us it is in many ways also a social mission. For the future, we are not ruling out the possibility of going to CIS countries where it is technically possible to get the NTV-PLUS signal.”
David Nakashidze, general manager of Media Group: “NTV-PLUS is a strong, well-known brand and high-quality television product. Today there is demand for Russian channels and legal Russian-language content. As such, I am confident that this offer will be interesting to subscribers on the territory of Georgia.”
The satellite TV market in Georgia has significant growth potential. According to expert estimates, the penetration of pay-TV services in the region, which has a population of 3.7 million people, is no more than 50 percent. According to a study by one of the largest European DTH-operators, SES company, the majority of Georgian residents choose satellite television. Geographical features significantly limit the possibilities of cable broadcasting and on a significant part of the territory the use of a satellite signal remains the only option.
NTV-PLUS is a world leader in terms of the area of stable satellite signal coverage, which includes Georgia and most of the CIS states. Broadcasting of NTV-PLUS is carried out from the satellites Eutelsat 36B and Express AMU1. Unique receiving subscriber equipment was developed to implement the project.