Muz-TV
A Russian music television channel and digital media brand focused on pop music, music charts, entertainment programming, and industry awards.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Muz-TV, also written as Муз-ТВ and derived from the Russian phrase for “music television,” is a Russian music television channel and associated online media brand. It began broadcasting in 1996 and was founded by media figures Sergey Lisovsky and Boris Zosimov. The channel emerged before MTV Russia, which launched in 1998, and its original concept was substantially influenced by the Western music-television model: a mixture of music videos, presenter-led programming, artist interviews, charts, and entertainment features. The channel’s core repertoire has traditionally been Russian popular music, supplemented by selected international pop, hip-hop, and contemporary R&B. Muz-TV has also used audience participation as part of its programming model, including website-based voting for Russian and international charts. Its digital presence extends the television proposition through online content and voting-related activity, although the available reference material does not establish a complete list of current digital products or services. Like many music channels, Muz-TV broadened its schedule during the late 2000s. Reality television and general youth-entertainment programs became increasingly prominent, making the service less exclusively music-focused. In 2012, the channel underwent a major repositioning and moved to a new frequency on 16 September. The reworked Muz-TV concept returned more strongly to music programming, while the former frequency was used by the youth-entertainment channel U. U carried some non-musical programs that had previously appeared on Muz-TV, alongside acquired series and new productions. A further distribution milestone came on 14 December 2012, when Muz-TV became freely available again and obtained the right to broadcast through digital television. This helped restore the channel’s role as a broadly accessible national music service rather than a narrowly distributed entertainment outlet. Muz-TV is also known for the annual Muz-TV Music Awards, first presented in 2003. The awards recognize Russian popular musicians across a range of categories. Historically, nominees were selected by the channel’s jury and winners were determined through audience voting, including SMS voting. The ceremony was held at Moscow’s Olimpiysky venue for many years, later moving to the Megasport Sport Palace after the former venue’s demolition. A 2014 edition was held in Astana, Kazakhstan, marking a one-off international relocation. The awards have attracted recurring criticism concerning the repetition of nominees and winners, the perceived narrowness of category competition, and alleged lip-syncing during the ceremony. The 2021 edition generated particularly strong controversy. Several producers criticized what they viewed as the program’s departure from a strictly musical focus, while the result in which Arthur Pirozhkov received the Best Singer award prompted visible disagreement from nominee Morgenshtern and surprise from other performers, including Timati and Egor Kreed. The same 2021 ceremony also led to legal scrutiny under Russia’s legislation concerning the promotion of non-traditional sexual relations to minors. Philipp Kirkorov and rapper Dava appeared on the red carpet in a procession involving men dressed as brides, after which the event was investigated. Moscow’s Basmanny District Court fined Muz-TV 1 million rubles, reported as the maximum penalty in that case. Ownership and corporate control have changed over time. In 2011, the channel was described as being owned by UTH Russia, which was in turn partly owned by MTV. In 2024, Ivan Tavrin’s Kismet Group agreed to sell media assets that included Muz-TV and the Yu television channel, together with the radio station Choose Radio, to a group of investors including Media Telecom, a joint venture associated with Rostelecom and the National Media Group. The available material describes an agreement to sell but does not establish a definitive final ownership structure. Zakhar Babin is identified in the reference material as Muz-TV’s chief executive officer.
History
Muz-TV was established in Russia in 1996 by Sergey Lisovsky and Boris Zosimov. Its launch preceded the arrival of MTV Russia in 1998, placing Muz-TV among the country’s earliest dedicated music-television services shaped by the Western music-channel format. The initial proposition centered on music videos and presenter-led programming, with Russian pop as the principal repertoire and selected international music included in the schedule. The channel developed a broader entertainment identity as its audience and programming ambitions expanded. During the late 2000s, reality programs and other youth-oriented entertainment became more visible, echoing the wider transformation of international music channels from continuous video services into general entertainment networks. This evolution made Muz-TV less exclusively focused on music, although music videos, artist-related programming, and chart shows remained important parts of the brand. A substantial repositioning occurred in 2012. On 16 September, Muz-TV moved to a new frequency and changed its concept back toward a more clearly musical service. The former frequency was used to launch U, a youth-entertainment channel that carried selected non-musical programs previously shown on Muz-TV together with purchased series and newly produced content. On 14 December of the same year, Muz-TV became freely available again and received the right to broadcast on digital television, improving its accessibility within the Russian television market. The brand’s most visible event property is the Muz-TV Music Awards. The awards have been presented annually since 2003 to Russian popular musicians. The channel’s jury has historically selected three nominees in each category, after which viewers have participated in determining winners through voting mechanisms including SMS. The ceremony was staged for many years at Moscow’s Olimpiysky complex. After that venue was demolished, the gala moved to the Megasport Sport Palace. In 2014, the ceremony was held once in Astana, Kazakhstan. The awards have also been an ongoing source of criticism. Media commentary has questioned the repeated appearance of the same artists in nominee lists, including repeated wins in particular categories, and has raised allegations that some performances used lip-syncing. The 2021 ceremony intensified these concerns. Producers Maxim Fadeev, Viktor Drobysh, and Iosif Prigozhin were among the industry figures reported to have criticized the event’s direction and its perceived loss of focus on music. Arthur Pirozhkov’s victory in the Best Singer category led nominee Morgenshtern to enter the stage and object to the outcome, while other performers, including Timati and Egor Kreed, reportedly voiced surprise during the event. The 2021 ceremony also produced a regulatory controversy. Philipp Kirkorov and rapper Dava appeared on the red carpet as part of a procession involving only men dressed as brides. Russian authorities investigated the event under the country’s legislation on the promotion of non-traditional sexual relations to minors. The Basmanny District Court in Moscow subsequently imposed a fine of 1 million rubles on Muz-TV, described in the reference material as the maximum penalty available for the violation. Corporate control has shifted across the channel’s history. In 2011, Muz-TV was described as belonging to UTH Russia, which was itself 49 percent owned by MTV. The available material does not provide a complete chronology of subsequent ownership changes. In 2024, Kismet Group, associated with Ivan Tavrin, agreed to sell a collection of media assets that included Muz-TV and Yu TV, as well as Choose Radio, to a group of investors including Media Telecom, a joint venture associated with Rostelecom and the National Media Group. Because the reference describes an agreement rather than a conclusively completed transaction, the current owner is left unspecified here. The channel’s chief executive is identified as Zakhar Babin.
- 2024
Agreement to sell Muz-TV media assets
[1]Kismet Group agrees to sell Muz-TV and related media assets to investors including Media Telecom; completion is not established by the available material.
- 2021
Awards ceremony controversy and court fine
[1]The awards generate disputes over voting and artistic direction, followed by a 1 million-ruble court fine connected with the ceremony’s red-carpet presentation.
- 2014
Muz-TV Music Awards held in Astana
[1]The awards ceremony travels outside Russia for a one-off edition in Astana, Kazakhstan.
- 2012
Frequency move and return to a music-centered concept
[1]Muz-TV moves to a new frequency on 16 September, while its former frequency becomes the youth-entertainment channel U.
- 2012
Free distribution and digital-television authorization
[1]On 14 December, Muz-TV becomes free again and receives the right to broadcast on digital television.
- 2011
UTH Russia ownership is reported
[1]Muz-TV is described as being owned by UTH Russia, which was reported as 49 percent owned by MTV.
- 2003
First Muz-TV Music Awards
[1]Muz-TV begins presenting its annual music awards for Russian popular musicians.
- 1996
Muz-TV begins broadcasting
[1]The Russian music television channel launches under founders Sergey Lisovsky and Boris Zosimov, before MTV Russia enters the market.
Products and positioning
A mass-market Russian music and youth-entertainment media brand combining pop-music television, audience-voted charts, digital content, and a high-profile annual awards ceremony.
Music television · 1996
Muz-TV television channel
The flagship broadcast service carries Russian pop music videos as its main content, with occasional international pop, hip-hop, and contemporary R&B. Its schedule has also included presenter-led shows, artist features, music-related entertainment, and periods of broader youth programming.
Music charts
Muz-TV music charts
Muz-TV has operated charts covering Russian and international artists. Audience participation, including voting through the channel’s website, has been part of the chart format and broader relationship between the channel and its viewers.
Digital media
Muz-TV website
The official website supports the brand’s digital presence and has been used for online content and audience voting connected with the channel’s charts and programming. The available sources do not provide a full inventory of current web features.
Music awards · 2003
Muz-TV Music Awards
An annual televised awards property recognizing Russian popular musicians. Nominees have historically been selected by a channel jury, with winners determined through public voting. The event combines award presentations, live performances, celebrity appearances, and extensive broadcast coverage.
Controversies
2021
2021 Muz-TV Music Awards controversy
The ceremony was criticized by music-industry figures over its programming direction and award results. Morgenshtern publicly challenged Arthur Pirozhkov’s Best Singer win during the show, while other performers expressed surprise at the result.
2021
Fine under Russia’s gay-propaganda legislation
Muz-TV was investigated after Philipp Kirkorov and Dava appeared on the red carpet in a procession involving men dressed as brides. Moscow’s Basmanny District Court imposed a 1 million-ruble fine under Russia’s law concerning the promotion of non-traditional sexual relations to minors.
Brand decisions
2024
Agreement to sell Muz-TV and related media assetsM&ABackground
Kismet Group sought to sell a package of media assets associated with Ivan Tavrin, including Muz-TV, Yu TV, and Choose Radio.
Action taken
Kismet Group agreed to sell the assets to a group of investors including Media Telecom, a joint venture associated with Rostelecom and the National Media Group.
Aftermath
The available reference does not confirm whether the transaction was completed or establish the definitive post-transaction owner.
2012
Repositioning around music programmingStrategyBackground
By the late 2000s, Muz-TV had expanded into reality and general entertainment programming, reducing the exclusivity of its music-channel identity.
Action taken
The channel moved to a new frequency on 16 September 2012 and restored a more music-centered concept. Its previous frequency became the home of the youth-entertainment channel U.
Aftermath
Muz-TV continued as the music-focused service, while U took over selected non-musical programs and developed additional acquired and original programming.
2012
Restoration of free distributionOtherBackground
The channel’s distribution status was adjusted as part of its broader repositioning and platform strategy.
Action taken
On 14 December 2012, Muz-TV became free again and obtained the right to broadcast on digital television.
Aftermath
The decision supported wider availability of the channel in Russia.
Recent events
- 2024
Kismet Group agrees to sell Muz-TV among a package of Russian media assets[1]
M&A
Ivan Tavrin’s Kismet Group agreed to sell media assets including Muz-TV, Yu TV, and Choose Radio to investors including Media Telecom, a joint venture associated with Rostelecom and the National Media Group. The available reference does not confirm the final completion or resulting ownership structure.
- 2012
Muz-TV returns to a more music-centered format after rebranding[1]
Other
On 16 September 2012, Muz-TV moved to a new frequency and revised its concept toward music programming. The former frequency became the home of the youth-entertainment channel U, which inherited selected non-musical programs while adding acquired and original content.
- 2012
Muz-TV becomes freely available and gains digital-television carriage rights[1]
Regulation · Other
On 14 December 2012, Muz-TV became available free of charge again and received authorization to broadcast on digital television.
Sources2 sources
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