Novyi Kanal

Novyi Kanal, meaning “New Channel,” is a Ukrainian television broadcaster launched on 15 July 1998. It began as a Kyiv station and expanded its terrestrial reach to six additional Ukrainian regions in 1999. By 2000, it was available in more than 17 major cities, and satellite distribution began on 20 December of that year. The channel became one of Ukraine’s recognizable commercial broadcasters during the rapid development of the country’s private television market. The station’s early growth was supported by a broad general-interest schedule combining news, sports, films, television series, entertainment formats, and other mass-market programming. On 1 March 2001, Novyi Kanal became the first Ukrainian channel to adopt continuous, 24-hour broadcasting. It reached third place in national television ratings in 2002, behind Inter and 1+1, although the published figures indicate a subsequent decline in audience share during the middle of the decade. In 2004 its share was reported at 10.11%, falling to 9.1% in 2005, 8.5% in 2006, and 7.42% in 2007. The channel later strengthened its position among commercial viewers. On 2 September 2008, it reported taking the lead in the commercial 14–49 audience segment in cities with populations above 50, with an audience share of 13.83%. Novyi Kanal became part of the media portfolio associated with Viktor Pinchuk and was formally presented as one of the principal assets of the StarLightMedia group in November 2009. The group also brought together ICTV, STB, M1, M2, and other Ukrainian media properties. Novyi Kanal’s management changed several times during its development. Oleksandr Tkachenko headed the channel from 1999 to 2004, followed by Iryna Lysenko from 2005 to 2012. Vladimir Lokotko managed the broadcaster from May 2012, and Alexey Gladushevsky became general director in 2019. The channel has also employed prominent Ukrainian journalists and presenters, including Andriy Kulykov, Andriy Shevchenko, Hanna Homonai, Lidiya Taran, Vitalii Hlahola, and Sviatoslav Tseholko. The broadcaster’s distribution and programming were affected by Ukraine’s political and security environment. Transmission in Sevastopol ended on 9 March 2014 following Russia’s annexation of Crimea. During 2014, activists associated with the Boycott of Russian Cinema campaign criticized Novyi Kanal for carrying Russian television series; one cited monitoring period recorded 7 hours and 35 minutes of Russian content. In July 2015, the channel introduced a new entertainment-oriented schedule that removed information and sports programming and emphasized animation, feature films, television series, and entertainment shows. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Novyi Kanal carried the United News information marathon continuously on 24 and 25 February 2022. From 25 February it reoriented its schedule toward children and teenagers. The channel has also operated without commercial advertising since 29 December 2021, according to the cited reference material. Its contemporary identity is therefore that of a Ukrainian commercial entertainment broadcaster within Starlight Media, while its wartime schedule has included nationally coordinated information programming and youth-oriented content.

Novyi Kanal was established as a Ukrainian commercial television station and began broadcasting on 15 July 1998. Its initial signal covered Kyiv, but the broadcaster expanded into six further Ukrainian regions during 1999. By 2000 it was available in more than 17 major cities, and satellite transmission was added on 20 December 2000. This expansion placed the channel among the private broadcasters contributing to the formation of Ukraine's modern television market. A major early programming milestone came on 1 March 2001, when Novyi Kanal introduced continuous 24-hour broadcasting, described in the reference material as a first for Ukraine. The station achieved third place in Ukrainian television ratings in 2002, behind Inter and 1+1. Its reported audience share later declined from 10.11% in 2004 to 9.1% in 2005, 8.5% in 2006, and 7.42% in 2007. Nevertheless, the channel subsequently reported a strong performance in the commercial 14–49 audience category in cities with populations above 50. On 2 September 2008, it claimed the lead in that segment with a 13.83% share. Novyi Kanal was created by Viktor Pinchuk and later operated within the media structure associated with Starlight Media. On 11 November 2009, Elena Pinchuk, identified in the reference as chair of the television group's supervisory board, presented the StarLightMedia brand. The presentation grouped Novyi Kanal with ICTV, STB, M1, M2, and other media properties, giving the broadcaster a place within a larger Ukrainian television portfolio. Leadership changed across the channel's first two decades. Oleksandr Tkachenko led the station from 1999 to 2004, Iryna Lysenko from 2005 to 2012, and Vladimir Lokotko from May 2012. Alexey Gladushevsky became general director in 2019. Journalists associated with the channel have included Andriy Kulykov, Andriy Shevchenko, Hanna Homonai, Lidiya Taran, Vitalii Hlahola, and Sviatoslav Tseholko. The broadcaster was affected by the political events surrounding Crimea and Russia's war against Ukraine. Its Sevastopol transmission stopped on 9 March 2014 after the annexation of Crimea by Russia. That year, activists in the Boycott of Russian Cinema campaign criticized the channel's use of Russian television series. Monitoring cited by the reference material found 7 hours and 35 minutes of Russian content during the week of 8–14 September 2014. On 6 July 2015, Novyi Kanal implemented a substantial schedule repositioning. Information and sports programming were removed, and the channel adopted an entertainment network centered on animation, feature films, television series, and entertainment formats. Following the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, Novyi Kanal broadcast the United News information marathon continuously on 24 and 25 February. From 25 February it shifted its schedule toward children and teenagers. The reference material also states that advertising had been absent from the channel's air since 29 December 2021. Novyi Kanal therefore combines the role of an entertainment-focused commercial broadcaster with participation in Ukraine's coordinated wartime information environment.

• 2022

  Wartime programming changes

  [1]Novyi Kanalen.wikipedia.org

  Novyi Kanal carried the United News marathon and subsequently shifted its schedule toward children and teenagers.

• 2015

  Entertainment network relaunch

  [1]Novyi Kanalen.wikipedia.org

  The channel removed information and sports programming and concentrated on entertainment, films, series, and animation.

• 2009

  StarLightMedia presentation

  [1]Novyi Kanalen.wikipedia.org

  Novyi Kanal was presented as part of the StarLightMedia group of Ukrainian broadcasters.

• 2008

  Commercial audience leadership

  [1]Novyi Kanalen.wikipedia.org

  The channel reported leading the commercial 14–49 audience segment in larger Ukrainian cities.

• 2002

  Third place in television ratings

  [1]Novyi Kanalen.wikipedia.org

  The broadcaster ranked third in Ukrainian television ratings after Inter and 1+1.

• 2001

  24-hour broadcasting

  [1]Novyi Kanalen.wikipedia.org

  Novyi Kanal switched to round-the-clock broadcasting on 1 March.

• 2000

  Expansion to major cities and satellite transmission

  [1]Novyi Kanalen.wikipedia.org

  By 2000 the channel was received in more than 17 major cities; satellite broadcasting began on 20 December.

• 1999

  Regional expansion

  [1]Novyi Kanalen.wikipedia.org

  The channel extended its reach from Kyiv to six additional regions of Ukraine.

• 1998

  Channel launch

  [1]Novyi Kanalen.wikipedia.org

  Novyi Kanal began broadcasting on 15 July, initially serving Kyiv.

A Ukrainian commercial broadcaster positioned around accessible entertainment, films, series, animation, and programming for younger viewers, with occasional national information programming during wartime.

• Television broadcasting · 1998

  Novyi Kanal television service

  The core Novyi Kanal service is a Ukrainian television broadcast distributed through terrestrial and satellite transmission. It began as a Kyiv station in 1998 and expanded nationally through regional distribution and satellite carriage. The service has used both general-interest programming and more specialized entertainment scheduling at different stages of its history.

• Television entertainment · 2015

  Entertainment programming

  Novyi Kanal's entertainment output includes entertainment shows, television series, feature films, and animated content. Since the 2015 schedule change, these categories have formed the central identity of the network, replacing much of its earlier information and sports programming.

• Youth television · 2022

  Children's and teenage programming

  From 25 February 2022, the channel reoriented its broadcast schedule toward children and teenagers in response to wartime conditions. The youth-oriented schedule complements the channel's established use of animation and family-oriented entertainment.

• 2014

  Criticism over Russian television series

  Novyi Kanal faced criticism from activists associated with the Boycott of Russian Cinema campaign over its broadcast of Russian television series. Monitoring cited in the reference material recorded 7 hours and 35 minutes of Russian content during 8–14 September.

  Source

Read more

• 2014Boycott of Russian Cinema

  Ukraine

  Activists campaigning against Russian audiovisual content monitored Ukrainian television channels and criticized Novyi Kanal for broadcasting Russian series. The cited monitoring period found 7 hours and 35 minutes of Russian content on the channel.

  Source

• 2022

  Adopted wartime programming changesStrategy

  Background

  Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began on 24 February, creating an urgent national need for coordinated information broadcasting and altered television schedules.

  Action taken

  Novyi Kanal aired the United News information marathon continuously on 24 and 25 February, then shifted its schedule toward children and teenagers from 25 February.

  Aftermath

  The channel temporarily operated with a wartime information role before emphasizing youth-oriented programming.

  Source

• 2015

  Repositioned as an entertainment networkStrategy

  Background

  Novyi Kanal changed its programming strategy after criticism and broader debate over the content carried by Ukrainian broadcasters.

  Action taken

  The broadcaster removed information and sports programs and emphasized animation, feature films, television series, and entertainment shows.

  Aftermath

  The change established a more focused entertainment identity for the channel.

  Source

• 2001

  Adopted continuous broadcastingStrategy

  Background

  The channel was expanding its national distribution and developing its position in Ukraine's commercial television market.

  Action taken

  Novyi Kanal switched to 24-hour broadcasting on 1 March.

  Aftermath

  The move was identified as a first among Ukrainian television channels in the cited reference material.

  Source

1. 1Novyi Kanalen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Novyi Kanal official websitenovy.tv