CTC Media

CTC Media was a Russian broadcasting and media group headquartered in Moscow. Established in Delaware in 1989 by American entrepreneur Peter Gerwe under the name StoryFirst Communications, the company developed from a Russian-American radio and television venture into one of Russia’s prominent commercial television groups. Its early broadcasting activities included the launch of a television station in St. Petersburg in 1991, followed by the expansion of Channel Six programming into other Russian regions in 1994. The national CTC television channel debuted in 1996 and became the group’s principal mass-market entertainment brand. Over time, CTC Media broadened its portfolio beyond CTC. It launched Domashny in 2005, describing the service as Russia’s first thematic television channel and targeting a predominantly female audience. The group later operated or invested in Che, formerly DTV, CTC Love, Channel 31 in Kazakhstan, and international versions of several channels. Its portfolio combined free-to-air broadcasting, thematic and entertainment channels, content production, advertising sales, and online video. Related digital properties included Videomore.ru, described as a social television network, and websites associated with CTC, Domashny, Che, and CTC Love. The company expanded through acquisitions and regional partnerships. It bought the Russian production companies Soho Media and CostaFilm in 2007, later combining them into Story First Production. In 2008 it acquired a minority interest in Kazakhstan’s Channel 31 group, purchased a controlling stake in Moldova’s TeleDixi, acquired DTV from shareholder Modern Times Group, and established a joint broadcasting venture in Uzbekistan with Terra Group. It also acquired regional Russian television companies including Orion and RIO in the Samara area. These transactions gave CTC Media a wider operating footprint and increased its control over production and distribution resources. CTC Media pursued international distribution during the late 2000s and early 2010s. CTC International began satellite broadcasting in North America in 2009, followed by launches or expansions in Israel, Germany, the Baltic states, Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Thailand. The group also distributed international versions of Domashny and Peretz in selected foreign markets. In 2014 it launched CTC Love on cable and satellite platforms and entered into a distribution agreement with Hulu. The company became a publicly traded business when its shares began trading on NASDAQ on June 1, 2006, under the symbol CTCM. It later faced a change in ownership and corporate structure. Telcrest Investments Limited, a private company based in Nicosia, Cyprus, acquired CTC Media in spring 2016, after which the company’s common stock ceased trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market in May 2016. The historical CTC Media corporate structure is therefore no longer an active standalone listed media company, although some of its channel and content brands continued to exist under subsequent ownership arrangements.

CTC Media originated in 1989, when American entrepreneur Peter Gerwe established StoryFirst Communications in Delaware. The company entered Russian broadcasting in 1991, co-founding the Russian-American radio station Maximum and starting television operations in St. Petersburg. Its Channel Six service expanded beyond the city in 1994. In 1996 the group launched CTC, a national commercial television channel that became the core of its Russian broadcasting business. The corporate name was changed from StoryFirst Communications to CTC Media by 2004. The group expanded its channel portfolio in 2005 with Domashny, a thematic service aimed particularly at female viewers. It subsequently added or controlled other entertainment properties, including DTV, later rebranded as Che, and CTC Love. CTC Media also built a content-production base. In 2007 it acquired Soho Media and CostaFilm, two Russian production businesses, and merged them in 2011 into Story First Production. These acquisitions reduced the group’s reliance on externally sourced programming and gave it greater involvement in the development and production of television content. Regional expansion was another part of the company’s strategy. In 2006 CTC Media acquired the Russian television company Orion in Samara and later acquired RIO in the same region. In 2008 it purchased a 20 percent interest in the Channel 31 group in Kazakhstan, acquired a 51 percent stake in Moldova’s TeleDixi broadcasting company, and created the SofTS broadcasting venture with Terra Group in Uzbekistan. SofTS did not become an enduring operation and was divested in 2010. The group also acquired DTV from Modern Times Group in 2008. CTC Media developed an international distribution network during the following years. CTC International began broadcasting by satellite in North America in 2009. The service expanded into Israel in 2010, Germany and additional North American platforms in 2011, and Europe, the Baltic states, North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia by 2012. Further distribution agreements and launches brought CTC-related services to Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Thailand. International versions of Domashny and Peretz also became available in selected markets across the Commonwealth of Independent States, Europe, the Caucasus, Mongolia, North America, Australia, and elsewhere. The company added digital and commercial-support activities to its broadcasting operations. In 2010 it established Everest Sales, an advertising-sales agency responsible for inventory associated with CTC, Domashny, Che, CTC Love, Videomore.ru, and Domashniy.ru, as well as certain advertising sales in Kazakhstan. Videomore.ru launched in December 2010 as a social television network, and by 2012 it also carried content from Channel Five and REN. In 2011 CTC Media launched the Domashny online portal as a digital extension of the television channel. CTC Media continued international brand development in the early 2010s. Peretz International entered cable networks in Belarus in 2013 and launched in Kyrgyzstan in 2014. CTC Love was introduced on cable and satellite platforms in spring 2014, and the group signed a distribution agreement with Hulu. During this period the business was described as incorporating five nationwide free-to-air channels across Russia and Kazakhstan, together with international feeds, advertising sales, online portals, and content services. CTC Media became a public company on June 1, 2006, when its shares began trading on NASDAQ under the symbol CTCM. The offering represented 16.38 percent of the company and was reported at a total IPO value of $345.9 million. After a period as a listed international media company, CTC Media was acquired in spring 2016 by Telcrest Investments Limited, a private company based in Nicosia, Cyprus. Its common stock ceased trading on NASDAQ in May 2016. The historical corporate entity is consequently treated as defunct as a standalone listed company, while several channel and media assets continued under later ownership.

• 2016

  CTC Media is acquired and delisted

  [1]CTC Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Telcrest Investments acquired the company, and its common stock stopped trading on NASDAQ.

• 2014

  CTC Love launches

  [1]CTC Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  The company introduced CTC Love on cable and satellite platforms and entered a distribution agreement with Hulu.

• 2010

  Videomore and Everest Sales are established

  [1]CTC Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  CTC Media launched the Videomore social television service and established an advertising-sales agency for its media inventory.

• 2006

  CTC Media lists on NASDAQ

  [1]CTC Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  The company’s shares began trading on NASDAQ under the ticker CTCM.

• 2005

  Domashny launches

  [1]CTC Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  The group introduced Domashny, a thematic channel aimed particularly at female viewers.

• 1996

  CTC television channel launches

  [1]CTC Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  CTC debuted as a national television channel in Russia.

• 1994

  Channel Six expands beyond St. Petersburg

  [1]CTC Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  The company extended Channel Six programming to additional Russian regions.

• 1991

  Russian broadcasting operations begin

  [1]CTC Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  The group co-founded Maximum radio and launched a television station in St. Petersburg.

• 1989

  StoryFirst Communications is established

  [1]CTC Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Peter Gerwe established the company in Delaware, beginning the corporate history that later became CTC Media.

A Russian commercial television and media group built around entertainment broadcasting, thematic channels, original content production, advertising sales, and digital distribution.

• National entertainment television channel · 1996

  CTC

  CTC was CTC Media’s principal Russian television brand. It debuted nationally in 1996 and served as the group’s central mass-market entertainment channel. The wider corporate portfolio, advertising business, international feeds, and production activities were built in substantial part around the reach and programming of CTC.

• Thematic television channel · 2005

  Domashny

  Domashny launched in 2005 as a thematic channel with a strong focus on female audiences. CTC Media supported the television service with an online portal, Domashniy.ru, and later distributed international versions of the brand in selected foreign markets.

• Entertainment television channel

  Che

  Che was the later identity of the DTV channel acquired by CTC Media from Modern Times Group in 2008. It formed part of the group’s Russian entertainment-channel portfolio and was also included in the advertising inventory managed by Everest Sales.

• Cable and satellite television channel · 2014

  CTC Love

  CTC Love was introduced in spring 2014 for distribution through cable and satellite platforms. It expanded the group’s Russian channel portfolio with a dedicated brand positioned around relationship and entertainment-oriented programming.

• International television feed · 2009

  CTC International

  CTC International was the overseas version of CTC. It began satellite broadcasting in North America in 2009 and subsequently expanded into Israel, Germany, Europe, the Baltic states, North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Thailand through additional platforms and distribution arrangements.

• Online video and social television network · 2010

  Videomore.ru

  Videomore.ru launched in December 2010 as an online service combining professional television video with social-network features. From 2012, the service also offered content from Channel Five and REN, extending it beyond a single-group catch-up or promotional portal.

• Media advertising-sales agency · 2010

  Everest Sales

  Established in 2010, Everest Sales managed advertising inventory for CTC Media’s television channels and digital properties, including CTC, Domashny, Che, CTC Love, Videomore.ru, and Domashniy.ru. It also handled advertising sales in parts of the Commonwealth of Independent States for Kazakhstan’s Channel 31 group.

• 2016

  Sell CTC Media to Telcrest InvestmentsM&A

  Background

  CTC Media transitioned from a publicly traded international media company to private ownership.

  Action taken

  Telcrest Investments Limited acquired CTC Media in spring 2016.

  Aftermath

  The company’s common stock ceased trading on NASDAQ in May 2016, ending its life as a listed standalone entity.

  Source

• 2014

  Launch CTC Love and sign Hulu distribution agreementProduct launch

  Background

  CTC Media continued developing niche channel brands and external digital distribution relationships.

  Action taken

  The company launched CTC Love on cable and satellite platforms and signed a distribution deal with Hulu.

  Aftermath

  These moves expanded the group’s channel portfolio and added a major online distribution partner.

  Source

• 2010

  Launch Videomore.ruProduct launch

  Background

  The group sought to extend television consumption into online and socially connected environments.

  Action taken

  CTC Media launched Videomore.ru as a social television network combining online video with social features.

  Aftermath

  The service later added content from Channel Five and REN, broadening its programming offer.

  Source

• 2009

  Launch CTC InternationalStrategy

  Background

  CTC Media aimed to reach Russian-speaking and related audiences outside the domestic market.

  Action taken

  The group began international satellite broadcasting in North America and later expanded the service to numerous markets.

  Aftermath

  CTC International developed a distribution footprint across Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, North America, and other regions.

  Source

• 2008

  Expand into Kazakhstan and MoldovaM&A

  Background

  The company pursued regional broadcasting growth outside Russia.

  Action taken

  CTC Media acquired a 20 percent interest in Kazakhstan’s Channel 31 group and a 51 percent stake in Moldova’s TeleDixi broadcasting company.

  Aftermath

  The transactions extended the group’s regional presence and added broadcasting operations beyond its Russian core.

  Source

• 2007

  Acquire Soho Media and CostaFilmM&A

  Background

  CTC Media sought to strengthen its control over television production and expand its supply of locally produced content.

  Action taken

  The group acquired Soho Media and CostaFilm and later combined the businesses into Story First Production.

  Aftermath

  The merged production structure became part of the group’s content-production platform in 2011.

  Source

1. 1CTC Mediaen.wikipedia.org