DirecTV Inc. is launching Studio 1+1 International, the first domestic 24-hour Ukrainian channel, according to company officials.
The direct-broadcast satellite provider is debuting the international version of Ukrainian television channel 1+1, which is from Central European Media Enterprises Ltd.
“During such a historic time for Ukraine, Studio 1+1 International will be an important source of information for more than 800,000 Ukrainians living in the United States and will help them to connect to their home country,” DirecTV International vice president Aaron McNally said in a prepared statement.
Studio 1+1 International is an international Ukrainian-language television channel that is the leader in production of Ukrainian original programming and one of the most popular channels for Ukrainian viewers.
The network -- available on channel 2148 for $14.99 per month -- will offer Ukrainian news, entertainment and political programming to Ukrainians living in the United States and to all interested in Ukrainian culture.
Studio 1+1 International offers popular programming, includingIdu Na Wy (Let’s Talk, Sir), a talk show that focuses on sensitive issues of modern times in Ukraine; TastyCountry, a cooking show hosted by Oleksander Ponomaryov, who offers his view on how to cook Ukrainian-style food; TSN News, which offers up-to-date news and information about what is happening in Ukraine and around the world; and About Sport News, which delivers information about sports events live Monday-Friday with the most popular sports journalists in the country.
“This agreement with DirecTV highlights our strategic focus on leveraging our station brands and content to create new revenue streams,” CME CEO Michael Garin said in a prepared statement. “We are pleased to bring an international version of 1+1’s extensive news and entertainment programming to the hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians living in the United States.”
DirecTV and Ukrainian community leaders will celebrate the launch with a press conference and reception June 5 at the Ukrainian Institute of America in New York.
