SPB TV

SPB TV is a technology company focused on the delivery and management of television and video over internet-connected devices. Its activities span over-the-top television, IPTV, mobile television, operator video portals, interactive television, set-top boxes, multiscreen services, and supporting technologies for media distribution. The company originated in Russia and developed from a mobile television platform created by a group of Russian IT specialists in 2006. That work led to the launch of the SPB TV mobile television service in 2007. From its beginning, SPB TV positioned its service as internationally deployable rather than as a Russia-only media product. Its software and platforms were integrated into the offerings of mobile network operators, telecommunications companies, broadcasters, and media distributors. Early deployments included mobile television and video services for operators such as Skylink, StarHub, MegaFon, MTS, Beeline, and Mobilink. The company also supplied white-label or adapted services that allowed partners to market television products under their own brands. This operator-oriented model made SPB TV a technology and platform supplier rather than simply a consumer streaming application. The company’s technology portfolio expanded as viewing shifted from mobile handsets to connected televisions and multiple screens. Its projects included mobile applications for Windows Mobile, Symbian, Android, and BlackBerry, operator video portals, online cinema delivery, interactive television, and OTT platforms. SPB TV also developed tools for personalized home screens, set-top boxes, channel and content management, and the replacement of advertising within online broadcasts. In 2017, it released an Android TV set-top box described as the first Russian model certified by Google in Russia. Its SPB TV Rosing platform, named for Russian television pioneer Boris Rosing, represented a further development of its platform architecture. SPB TV has worked with both international and regional content owners. Its projects included distribution of Chinese television and news channels, cooperation with China Central Television’s internet television operation, licensing of selected Russian children’s animation for Chinese broadcast, and agreements involving Uzbek channels for audiences in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Other projects covered premium television, sports broadcasting, esports and gaming media, Russian content distribution, and passenger video services for transport networks. In 2016, the company introduced SPB TV Russia as a service limited to the Russian Federation, while the international offering became known as SPB TV World. The company’s research and development base is in Saint Petersburg, and it has been associated with the Skolkovo innovation ecosystem through the group company Pitersoftwarehaus. SPB TV has also participated in Russian technology and communications industry organizations, including ACAR, IAB Russia, RUSSOFT, and RAEC. Public reference material identifies Kirill Filippov as the company’s chief executive. Financial performance, ownership structure, and a current corporate website are not established in the supplied sources.

SPB TV traces its origins to a group of Russian IT specialists who developed a mobile television media platform in 2006. The project’s initial objective was to make television and video content available on mobile devices, at a time when mobile operators were beginning to experiment with data services and mobile broadcasting. The resulting SPB TV service was launched in 2007 and was designed from the outset for worldwide availability. The company’s first phase was centered on mobile operator deployments. In 2007, SPB TV supported the launch of a multimedia service for the Russian operator Skylink. In 2009, it broadened its device coverage through versions for Windows Mobile, Symbian, Android, and BlackBerry. The following year brought deployments for Singapore’s StarHub and a mobile video portal for Russia’s MegaFon. In 2011, SPB TV supported MTS TV and helped deliver coverage of the Copa América football championship through the mTraffic company. These projects established the company’s model of supplying technical infrastructure and branded services to communications partners. SPB TV continued its international expansion in 2012. In cooperation with DigiVive, it released the NexgTV mobile television service, which was subsequently adapted by operators including BSNL, MTNL Mumbai, and MTNL Delhi under white-label arrangements. In Russia, SPB TV launched a mobile video portal for Beeline and added radio-station relay functionality to the service. In 2013, it supported the launch of Amediateka, an online cinema service operated by Amedia and carrying programming from international producers including HBO, Starz, ABC, and BBC. The same year, SPB TV began distributing Chinese content and joined the Association of Communication Agencies of Russia and IAB Russia. The company expanded its operator and content relationships in 2014 and 2015. It launched an OTT service in Belarus for A1, then known as velcom, and introduced international services for the virtual operator Lebara and the Mobilink operator. Its Chinese programming relationships also developed during this period: Dragon TV International was added in 2015, and SPB TV entered into an agreement with CNTV Internet Television, associated with China Central Television, for distribution of several Chinese-language and international channels. In 2016, SPB TV introduced a new version of its platform under the name SPB TV Rosing, referencing scientist Boris Rosing. The company also separated its market-facing services: SPB TV Russia was created for distribution within the Russian Federation, while the international version adopted the SPB TV World name. This distinction reflected the company’s simultaneous focus on the domestic Russian market and international operator projects. The later 2010s saw greater emphasis on connected television, OTT, and interactive viewing. In 2017, SPB TV released an Android TV set-top box described as the first Russian device of its kind to receive Google certification in Russia. It also implemented advertising replacement for the online broadcast of Russia’s Channel One. In 2018, the company launched Danzer TV, an interactive television service. In 2019, it launched a multiscreen OTT television service in Uzbekistan for the Beeline brand. SPB TV diversified further in 2020 and 2021. E Terra Journal was introduced as a service for esports and gaming audiences, and SPB TV supported Roskino in launching an online market for Russian content. In 2021, it launched an A1 video service for passengers using transport networks and agreed with NTRK to distribute 12 Uzbek channels in Russia and the CIS. The company’s corporate structure has included the Skolkovo resident Pitersoftwarehaus. Its research and development center is based in Saint Petersburg, while the head office is identified as being in Zug, Switzerland. The company has participated in RUSSOFT and the Russian Association of Electronic Communications, in addition to its earlier memberships. Public reference material names Kirill Filippov as chief executive. No reliable information in the supplied material establishes a founder, detailed ownership structure, financial results, or a current standalone website.

1. 2021Transport video and Uzbek channel distribution projects

   The company launched an A1 video service for transport passengers and agreed to distribute Uzbek channels in Russia and the CIS.

   Source
2. 2020Gaming and Russian-content services introduced

   SPB TV launched E Terra Journal and an online Russian-content market for Roskino.

   Source
3. 2019Multiscreen Uzbek OTT service launched

   SPB TV launched a multiscreen OTT television service in Uzbekistan for the Beeline brand.

   Source
4. 2018Danzer TV launched

   The company introduced the interactive television service Danzer TV.

   Source
5. 2017Android TV set-top box released

   SPB TV released a Google-certified Android TV set-top box for the Russian market and implemented online advertising replacement for Channel One.

   Source
6. 2016SPB TV Rosing platform introduced

   A new platform version named SPB TV Rosing was released, and the domestic SPB TV Russia service was separated from SPB TV World.

   Source
7. 2015International operator and Chinese media expansion

   The company launched services for Lebara and Mobilink, added Dragon TV International, and entered a CNTV distribution agreement.

   Source
8. 2014Belarusian OTT service launched

   SPB TV launched an OTT service for A1, then operating under the velcom name, in Belarus.

   Source
9. 2013Amediateka and Chinese content initiatives

   SPB TV supported Amediateka’s online cinema launch, began broadcasting Chinese content, and joined ACAR and IAB Russia.

   Source
10. 2012NexgTV and Beeline projects launched

    The company worked with DigiVive on NexgTV and launched a mobile video portal and radio relay service for Beeline.

    Source
11. 2010Operator deployments expanded internationally

    SPB TV launched a television service for StarHub in Singapore and a mobile video portal for MegaFon.

    Source
12. 2009Multi-platform mobile applications released

    SPB TV made versions available for Windows Mobile, Symbian, Android, and BlackBerry.

    Source
13. 2007SPB TV mobile television service launched

    The company launched its mobile television service and supported a multimedia service for Skylink.

    Source
14. 2006Mobile television platform developed

    Russian IT specialists developed the mobile television platform that became the foundation of SPB TV.

    Source

A B2B television-technology and OTT platform provider for telecom operators, broadcasters, media companies, and other distributors that need branded, multiscreen delivery of live and on-demand video.

• SPB TV WorldInternational OTT television service2007

  The international version of SPB TV’s video service, intended for access outside the Russian Federation. It reflects the company’s original global distribution model and is supported by technology for live television, video delivery, and operator or media-partner integration.

• SPB TV RussiaDomestic OTT television service2016

  A Russia-specific service introduced in 2016 and made available within the Russian Federation. Its creation distinguished the domestic offering from the international service, subsequently identified as SPB TV World.

• SPB TV RosingOTT and IPTV platform2016

  A platform version named after Boris Rosing, a pioneer associated with television technology. It represents SPB TV’s platform infrastructure for operator, broadcaster, and multiscreen television deployments.

• SPB TV Android TV set-top boxConnected-TV hardware2017

  An Android TV-based set-top box released for the Russian market in 2017. The device was designed to bring personalized television and video services to the home screen and was described as Google-certified in Russia.

• Danzer TVInteractive television service2018

  An interactive television service launched by SPB TV in 2018 as part of the company’s expansion beyond linear mobile television into more participatory and connected viewing experiences.

• E Terra JournalEsports and gaming media service2020

  A service introduced in 2020 for fans of esports and gaming. It illustrates SPB TV’s move into specialized digital-media formats beyond conventional television-channel distribution.

• 2017Launch of a Google-certified Android TV set-top boxProduct launch

  Viewing was increasingly shifting from mobile devices to connected televisions and home entertainment systems.

  What changed. SPB TV released an Android TV set-top box for the Russian market, supporting a personalized television home screen.

  Aftermath. The product extended SPB TV’s platform offering from software and operator services into connected-TV hardware.

  Source
• 2017Online advertising replacement deploymentOther

  SPB TV was developing technology intended to replace advertising within online television streams.

  What changed. The company implemented advertising replacement for the online broadcast of Russia’s Channel One.

  Aftermath. The deployment demonstrated SPB TV’s focus on monetization and stream-level control for broadcaster and platform partners.

  Source
• 2016Separate domestic and international servicesStrategy

  SPB TV had operated an internationally available video service while continuing to develop Russian operator and media relationships.

  What changed. The company introduced SPB TV Russia for the Russian Federation and used SPB TV World as the name for the international version.

  Aftermath. The separation created distinct domestic and international service identities, although the supplied material does not provide subscriber or financial results.

  Source

• 2021SPB TV Media agreed to distribute Uzbek channels

  SPB TV Media signed an agreement with NTRK concerning distribution of 12 Uzbek channels in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

  Other
  Source
• 2020SPB TV received a Belt and Road media award

  SPB TV received the Golden Ribbon Special Contribution Award at the Belt and Road Media Community Forum in Beijing for assistance and support provided to partners during the COVID-19 epidemic.

  Other
  Source
• 2017SPB TV launched an Android TV set-top box

  The company released an Android TV set-top box described in the reference material as the first Russian model certified by Google in Russia.

  Product launch
  Source
• 2009SPB TV released applications for major mobile platforms

  SPB TV expanded the availability of its television service to Windows Mobile, Symbian, Android, and BlackBerry devices.

  Product launch
  Source
• 2007SPB TV launched its mobile television service

  The company launched the SPB TV mobile television service after developing a mobile video platform.

  Product launch
  Source

1. SPB TV