Gazprom Media takes control of KHL TV

Russia’s Gazprom Media has taken control of the KHL TV channel from the Kontinental Hockey League, according to local reports.

Gazprom Media, which already produces and distributes the channel for the league, has taken an 80% stake in the channel will consolidate it into its Match TV group of services, according to the Kommersant newspaper.

Match TV’s operating company National Sports TV and the KHL formed a joint company in which Match TV has an 80% stake, and which then took 100% control KHL Marketing, the licence holder of KHL TV, which was previously wholly owned by the league.

Gazprom Media chief Dmitry Chernyshenko has served as president of the KHL since 2014.

According to Kommersant, citing Kartoteka.ru, KHL Marketing posted a net profit of RUB176 million on revenues of RUB238 million in 2016, the last year for which figures are available.

KHL TV has been broadcasting since 2009, featuring live broadcasts of KHL matches as well as archive and documentary programming.

In addition to hockey, Match TV produces TV channels for the Russian football premier league, the RFPL.