Russian Federation

[RU] Rules for Multiplexes Approved

IRIS 2011-6:1/26

Andrei Richter

Comenius University (Bratislava)

The Governmental Commission on Development of TV and Radio Broadcasting (see IRIS-Plus 2010-1) agreed at its meeting on 16 December 2010 on certain rules of the set-up for the 2nd and 3rd multiplexes of digital television in Russia. As was reported earlier the line-up for the first multiplex was approved by President Dmitry Medvedev in 2009 (see IRIS 2009-10/25).

According to the Ministry of Communications and Mass Communications both 2nd and 3rd sets of channels will be free for the audience. The price of the entry to the multiplexes for the broadcasters is still not determined.

The 2nd multiplex will contain 9 national channels that might include in their programming regional windows of programming. All channels must be networks that broadcast 24 hours a day. Despite earlier reservations in this regard (see IRIS-Plus 2010-1) they will be selected by the Federal Competition Commission (FCC) based on the criteria of higher ratings and “social importance”.

The 3rd multiplex will contain four “municipal channels” with regional broadcasting that will be different in different parts of Russia. It will also contain one national HDTV channel to be determined by the FCC. The municipal stations can be affiliated with the networks that would not enter the 2nd multiplex. The municipal channels are to be selected in a completion procedure but the exact role of the FCC has not been determined. The press release speaks of the criteria of higher ratings, 24hr broadcasting and “social importance” of the winning channels.