8 Kanal

8 Kanal (also known as Vosmoy Kanal or Channel 8) is a Belarusian television company based in Minsk. It began broadcasting its programmes in the Belarusian capital in 1989, initially showing Hollywood action films and classic Disney cartoons in low quality, and has since positioned itself as an information and entertainment channel. In its early years the signal could only be received via individual or homemade antennas. Today the channel broadcasts around the clock and its programmes are produced in both Russian and Belarusian. The company operates as a closed joint-stock company, ZAO 8 Kanal, and is actively involved in producing documentaries, television programmes, reports, news bulletins, and in sponsoring sporting events. The core of its schedule consists of in-house productions, films, documentary series, and feature series for children and adults. A significant turning point came on 1 January 2001, when the Minsk frequency on channel 8 was taken over by the SТВ television channel. That same year 8 Kanal built its own television broadcasting centre, owning its transmitter, transmitting antenna and mast, and at the end of December 2001 the channel resumed broadcasting on channel 11 in the Belarusian capital. On 21 January 2019 the channel switched to HD broadcasting. On 28 July 2025 it moved to round-the-clock broadcasting, which ended on 30 March 2026. As a private Belarusian broadcaster, 8 Kanal occupies a niche as a general-interest information and entertainment channel, combining its own productions with acquired films and series. Its ownership structure is that of a closed joint-stock company, and it remains a locally focused broadcaster serving the Minsk market and Belarus more broadly.

8 Kanal began broadcasting its programmes in Minsk in 1989. In its early period the channel showed Hollywood action films and classic Disney cartoons in poor quality, and from that time it has positioned itself as an information and entertainment channel. Initially the channel's signal could only be received with an individual or homemade antenna. Over time it developed into a round-the-clock broadcaster. The company ZAO 8 Kanal is actively engaged in producing documentary films, television programmes, reports, news bulletins, and in sponsoring sporting events. The basis of its television programming consists of in-house productions, films, documentary series, and feature series for children and adults. Its television programmes are broadcast in Russian and Belarusian. On 1 January 2001, broadcasting of the STV television channel began on the channel 8 frequency in Minsk. In the same year 8 Kanal built its own television broadcasting centre: the transmitter, transmitting antenna and mast are owned by the company, and at the end of December 2001 the channel resumed its work on channel 11 in the Belarusian capital. On 21 January 2019 the television channel switched to HD broadcasting format. On 28 July 2025, 8 Kanal switched to round-the-clock broadcasting, which ended on 30 March 2026.

• 2026

  Round-the-clock broadcasting ended on 30 March.

• 2025

  On 28 July, 8 Kanal switched to round-the-clock broadcasting.

• 2019

  On 21 January, the channel switched to HD broadcasting format.

• 2001

  On 1 January, STV television channel began broadcasting on the channel 8 frequency in Minsk; 8 Kanal built its own television broadcasting centre and resumed broadcasting on channel 11 at the end of December.

• 1989

  8 Kanal began broadcasting its programmes in Minsk.

Information and entertainment television channel

• Documentary films

• Television programmes

• News bulletins

• Feature series for children and adults

1. 1Wikidata entry for 8 Kanalwikidata.org
2. 2Восьмой канал (Беларусь) — Wikipedia (Russian)ru.wikipedia.org