CTC to produce content specifically for online service

Russian broadcaster CTC Media plans to produce content exclusive to its Videomore online portal next year via a new subsidiary, according to local reports.

CTC’s strategy and business development chief Vyacheslav Sinadsky said that CTC Media’s Story First production arm would create a unit specifically to develop content for the internet TV service, with a focus on short-form content.

Sinadsky said that CTC would continue to focus primarily on an advertising-driven model as it was not clear that a paid-for service would attract sufficient viewers.

In parallel to developing Videomore, CTC is exploring the possibility of creating a new online platform in collaboration with other Russian broadcasters on the model of the US Hulu service, in which case Videomore could be closed or merged with the new service.