Gazprom-Media

Gazprom-Media is a Russian media holding company associated with Gazprom, the state-controlled energy group. Established in January 1998, it developed into one of the country’s largest diversified media businesses, with activities spanning television channels, radio broadcasting, publishing, online video, digital advertising, sports media, film distribution and cinema operations. The group’s portfolio has included more than 38 television channels and 10 radio stations, alongside digital services and production companies. The company became nationally prominent in 2000 when it acquired NTV and other assets of Vladimir Gusinsky’s Media Most group. The transaction brought NTV, then widely regarded as Russia’s principal nationwide television outlet independent of the government, under the ownership of a Gazprom-related entity. It also added the NTV Plus satellite platform, TNT, Echo of Moscow, Seven Days publishing assets and other businesses. The takeover generated substantial political and press-freedom controversy and was followed by significant changes in NTV’s editorial direction. The acquisition remains the defining turning point in Gazprom-Media’s history and in the consolidation of Russian national television ownership. Gazprom-Media later expanded beyond conventional television. Its television portfolio has included NTV, TNT, TNT4, TV-3, 2x2, Friday!, Match!, 365 Days TV and Subbota!, while NTV Plus provided pay-television and satellite distribution capabilities. Through GPM-Radio, the group has operated stations including AvtoRadio, Radio Energy, Humor FM, Comedy Radio, Children’s Radio, Like FM and Relax FM. Its publishing interests have included the Seven Days publishing house and magazines such as Story Caravan and Story Caravan Collection. Digital and content activities have become increasingly important. The group’s listed or associated digital assets include Rutube, the Russian video platform; Premier, a streaming service; Around TV; SRSLY; Sportbox.ru; UMA-TECH; Getintent; and 2x2.Media. In film and entertainment, the portfolio has included Central Partnership, Comedy Club Production, Red Media, NTV-Kino and cinema businesses such as October Cinema and Crystal Palace Cinema. These holdings give Gazprom-Media a vertically integrated presence in content production, rights, distribution, advertising and audience platforms. Ownership arrangements have changed over time. Gazprom-Media Holdings was sold to Gazprombank in 2005, and later ownership structures involved Gazprom and pension-related interests connected with Gazfond. The group is not publicly listed as an independent company. Its strategic position reflects both commercial diversification and its place within Russia’s broader state-linked media system. In March 2020, Aleksandr Zharov became director general, succeeding Nikolay Senkevich, who had led the company from 2004. Gazprom-Media continues to operate as an active Russian media group, although the precise scope of its portfolio can change as assets are reorganized, acquired or divested.

Gazprom-Media was established in January 1998 as a media subsidiary within the Gazprom corporate structure. It was created during a period when Russian media ownership was being reorganized around powerful industrial and financial groups. The company’s early development was tied to the expansion of Gazprom’s interests beyond energy and into television, radio, publishing and related communications businesses. The decisive event in its history came in 2000, when Gazprom-Media acquired NTV and other businesses belonging to Vladimir Gusinsky’s Media Most group. NTV had been one of Russia’s most prominent national television channels and was widely viewed at the time as unusually independent of direct government control. The transfer followed sustained pressure on Media Most and became the subject of extensive political and press-freedom criticism. Along with NTV, Gazprom-Media obtained NTV Plus, TNT, Echo of Moscow, Seven Days publishing assets and other personnel and infrastructure. The change in ownership was followed by a notable shift in NTV’s editorial policy and established Gazprom-Media as a central force in Russian television. The post-2000 group combined traditional broadcasting with supporting businesses. NTV supplied a major general-interest television channel, NTV Plus provided satellite and pay-television capabilities, and TNT developed a strong entertainment orientation. Radio assets and publishing operations broadened the group’s audience reach. The group also inherited or absorbed personnel and security-related structures associated with Media Most. Accounts of this period have connected some of those structures to former Soviet security-service personnel and to the Institute of Strategic Studies and Analysis; these elements have contributed to the controversy surrounding the Media Most takeover. In 2005, Gazprom-Media added Izvestia, one of Russia’s best-known national newspapers. The newspaper was later partly separated from the group when the National Media Group bought a 50.19 percent stake in May 2008. The same year, Gazprom-Media Holdings was sold to Gazprombank for a reported 37.22 billion rubles. Subsequent ownership arrangements involved Gazprom, Gazfond and related financial entities, illustrating the complex corporate relationships through which the holding’s media assets were controlled. Over the following years, Gazprom-Media diversified into thematic television, sports, radio, online video, advertising technology, film production and cinema. Television brands associated with the group included 2x2, 365 Days TV, Friday!, Match!, NTV, TNT, TNT4, TV-3 and Subbota!. GPM-Radio operated a broad collection of music, comedy, entertainment and children’s stations. Digital holdings included Rutube, Around TV, SRSLY, Sportbox.ru, UMA-TECH, Premier, Getintent and 2x2.Media. Film-related businesses included Central Partnership, Comedy Club Production, Red Media and NTV-Kino, as well as cinema venues. Management changed several times during the company’s development. Viktor Ilyushin, Sergey Zverev, Alexander Astafyev, Alfred Kokh, Boris Jordan and Alexander Dybal served as directors general before Nikolay Senkevich’s long tenure from 2004 to 2020. Aleksandr Zharov became director general in March 2020 and is also identified as a member of the board of directors. The company remains active and private, operating as one of Russia’s largest integrated media groups under the wider Gazprom corporate umbrella.

1. 2020Aleksandr Zharov becomes director general

   Aleksandr Zharov succeeded Nikolay Senkevich as director general in March 2020.

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2. 2008National Media Group takes a majority stake in Izvestia

   The National Media Group acquired a 50.19 percent stake in Izvestia from Gazprom-Media.

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3. 2005Izvestia is acquired

   The group purchased the national newspaper Izvestia, adding a major print publication to its television, radio and publishing portfolio.

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4. 2005Gazprom-Media Holdings is transferred to Gazprombank

   Gazprom-Media Holdings was sold to Gazprombank, changing the immediate corporate ownership of the media business.

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5. 2000NTV and Media Most assets join the group

   Gazprom-Media acquired NTV and several other Media Most assets, including NTV Plus, TNT, Echo of Moscow and Seven Days publishing operations.

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6. 1998Gazprom-Media is established

   Gazprom-Media was established in January 1998 as a subsidiary within the Gazprom group.

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A diversified, state-linked Russian media holding group combining mass television, radio, digital platforms, sports media, publishing and entertainment.

• NTVTelevision channel

  NTV is a major Russian nationwide television channel and the most historically consequential asset in Gazprom-Media’s portfolio. Acquired from Media Most in 2000, it brought news, public-affairs, entertainment and general programming into the group’s flagship broadcast portfolio. The acquisition altered the ownership and editorial landscape of Russian national television.

• TNTTelevision channel

  TNT is an entertainment-oriented television channel associated with Gazprom-Media. It became part of the group through the 2000 acquisition of Media Most assets and has been positioned around comedy, scripted entertainment and popular programming. TNT also connects with the group’s production and comedy businesses.

• Match TVSports television

  Match TV is a sports-focused television brand within Gazprom-Media’s broadcasting portfolio. It supports the group’s presence in sports rights, sports news and televised competition, complemented by digital sports properties such as Sportbox.ru and other Match-branded services.

• NTV PlusSatellite and pay television

  NTV Plus is a satellite and pay-television platform acquired with Media Most’s assets in 2000. It provides distribution infrastructure and subscription television capabilities that extend Gazprom-Media beyond free-to-air broadcasting.

• GPM-RadioRadio network

  GPM-Radio is the group’s radio subsidiary and has operated a portfolio covering music, comedy, entertainment, children’s programming and regional services. Associated stations have included AvtoRadio, Radio Energy, Humor FM, Comedy Radio, Children’s Radio, Like FM, Relax FM and Radio Romantika.

• RutubeOnline video platform

  Rutube is a Russian online video platform associated with Gazprom-Media. It forms part of the group’s digital strategy by providing a domestic destination for video distribution alongside the company’s television channels, production businesses and streaming services.

• PremierStreaming service

  Premier is a streaming and digital content service in the Gazprom-Media portfolio. It complements the group’s broadcast channels and production assets by providing an online route for entertainment and other video content.

• Central PartnershipFilm production and distribution

  Central Partnership is a film-related business associated with Gazprom-Media. It contributes to the group’s participation in film production, rights management and distribution, complementing its television and online video operations.

• Seven Days Publishing HousePrint publishing

  Seven Days Publishing House was among the Media Most assets acquired by Gazprom-Media in 2000. Its publications have included the Seven Days television guide and the Story Caravan magazine titles, giving the holding company a print and lifestyle-media presence.

• 2020Change in chief executiveStrategy

  Nikolay Senkevich had led Gazprom-Media since 2004.

  What changed. Aleksandr Zharov became director general in March 2020.

  Aftermath. Zharov’s appointment continued the group’s management under a leader who also joined its board of directors.

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• 2005Purchase IzvestiaM&A

  Gazprom-Media expanded its presence from broadcasting into national newspaper publishing.

  What changed. The holding company acquired Izvestia, a major Russian daily newspaper.

  Aftermath. Izvestia later changed ownership when the National Media Group acquired a 50.19 percent stake in 2008.

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• 2005Transfer Gazprom-Media Holdings to GazprombankM&A

  The transaction reorganized the ownership of Gazprom’s media holdings within the wider Gazprom financial structure.

  What changed. Gazprom-Media Holdings was sold to Gazprombank.

  Aftermath. Later ownership involved Gazprom and Gazfond-related interests, producing a more complex indirect ownership structure.

  Reported transaction value. 37.22 billion rubles (2005)

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• 2000Acquire NTV and Media Most media assetsM&A

  The transaction occurred amid conflict between the Russian authorities and Media Most owner Vladimir Gusinsky. NTV was then regarded as an unusually independent nationwide television channel.

  What changed. Gazprom-Media took over NTV, NTV Plus, TNT, Echo of Moscow, Seven Days publishing assets and related Media Most operations.

  Aftermath. The acquisition made Gazprom-Media a central player in national media and was followed by substantial changes in NTV’s editorial policy, generating sustained press-freedom controversy.

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• 2000Controversy over the acquisition of NTV and Media MostControversy

  Gazprom-Media’s takeover of NTV and other Media Most assets was widely criticized as a politically pressured transfer of a major independent-leaning broadcaster to a Gazprom-linked owner. The transaction was followed by changes in NTV’s editorial policy and became a landmark controversy in the history of Russian media ownership and press freedom.

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• 2000Media Most security structures and former KGB personnelControversy

  Accounts of the post-takeover period describe Gazprom-Media receiving personnel, records and security-related structures associated with Media Most and former Soviet security-service officials. These allegations and institutional links added to criticism surrounding the takeover, although the available reference material does not establish a separate legal finding against Gazprom-Media.

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• 2020Aleksandr Zharov becomes director general

  Aleksandr Zharov took over as Gazprom-Media’s director general, replacing Nikolay Senkevich, who had held the position since 2004.

  Leadership change
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• 2005Gazprom-Media purchases Izvestia

  Gazprom-Media acquired the national daily newspaper Izvestia, expanding its newspaper holdings. In 2008, the National Media Group acquired a majority stake in the publication from Gazprom-Media.

  M&A
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• 2005Gazprom-Media Holdings sold to Gazprombank

  Gazprom-Media Holdings was transferred to Gazprombank in a transaction reported at 37.22 billion rubles, changing the group’s direct ownership structure.

  M&A
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1. Gazprom-Media
2. Gazprom-Media official website