Discovery Communications and National Media Group signed a deal to form Media Alliance, a limited liability company that will distribute Discovery’s 11 pay TV networks and its Eurosport TV portfolio in Russia.
The transaction is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.
“The agreement to form Media Alliance is a further example of Discovery’s global strategy to extend the reach of our high quality content across all categories and platforms. Russia remains an important market and we are confident that this deal will allow us to continue our growth there,” said Discovery Networks Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa president and managing director Kasia Kieli in a statement.
According to Discovery, its portfolio of educational, scientific and factual channels are popular across Russia, with local favorites including Discovery Channel, TLC and Animal Planet. Eurosport, Discovery’s latest addition, is the leading pay TV sports channel in the market. In recent years, Discovery has increased the number of local channels and productions in Russia and hit shows include Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman, MythBusters as well as the forthcoming Racing Extinction, recently featured at the Moscow International Film Festival.
Discovery North East Europe senior vice president and country manager Olga Paskina will become general director of the Media Alliance General Director in addition to her Discovery responsibilities. She has extensive experience in strategic leadership and operational management, having previously held leadership positions in Russian and international companies.
“With this arrangement, Discovery will keep providing Russian citizens with the scientific, educational and factual content that we have broadcast for 17 years,” Paskina said in a statement.
.
