NG-antrakt (Moscow), September 12, 2003

Fall is a traditional season for Russian television channels to present their updated schedules. This fall was also marked by the launch of a new television channel. The RosBusinessConsulting information agency introduced Russia's first business television - RBC TV. Starting September 2, RBC TV is accessible to subscribers of Kosmos TV, NTV+, Divo TV, Comcor TV as well as to Internet users. The new channel is an example of so-called "niche" television and is devoted entirely to business information with roller captions providing stock indices and breaking business news. RBC TV's schedule is divided into three sections: morning programs for top executives, afternoon programs with a focus on analytical reviews and evening programs with news and results of the day. RBC TV's partners, CNN-International and CNBC Europe, provide a Russian audience with international business news. The channel broadcasts around the clock. In spite of the fact that advertising will take up only 6 minutes of each hour on air, the creators of the Russian business channel plan to receive revenues only from advertising. According to RBC TV's executives, the total volume of investments in the project amounted to $23m, of which $18m was provided by the agency itself. RBC has a 100-percent stake in the channel as, according to RBC TV General Director Artyom Inutin, it is important that the channel be totally Russian. The major audience of the channel will be constituted by people of 25 to 55 years of age with above-average incomes. Given this, RBC TV will focus on cities with a population of over 1m people and cities with residents receiving high incomes such as Surgut. According to Comcon, the audience of RBC TV is over 12m people.

Nina Surkova,
Television for specialists.