Tricolor aiming for 16 million subs with “best content in Russia”

Russian pay TV operator Tricolor TV is aiming for 16 million subscribers by the end of 2015.

The DTH platform provider launched in 2005 and has grown its subscriber base to 11.5 million in seven years.

According to Alexander Nikiforov, head of external communications department at Tricolor’s parent company JSC National Satellite Company, the operator’s strategy of offering a free basic package of channels and then upselling premium content bouquets is paying off.

Tricolor launched HD services in July and has since attracted over half a million HD subs. Nikiforov said the operator was aiming for seven million HD subs by the end of 2014.

“Our content is the best in the Russian market,” Nikiforov told delegates at the Digital TV World Summit in London this morning. “NTV-Plus which was our main competitor when we launched was a premium content provider but in the last year, maybe two, we have reached the NTV Plus quality and quantity and now I think that our content is the best in the Russian market.”

Nikiforov said Tricolor was also planning to launch VOD and catch-up platforms and was looking at launching HbbTV services.