MOSCOW, Nov. 12, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CTC Media, Inc. ("CTC Media" or the "Company") (Nasdaq:CTCM), Russia's leading independent media company, and The Walt Disney Company CIS have announced the signing of a new two-year agreement to broadcast the films and animated content of The Walt Disney Company CIS ("Disney") via Channel 31, one of the largest players on the television market in Kazakhstan.
The agreement marks yet another step in the continuation of the successful cooperation between the two companies, which began in 2008. Under the terms of the agreement, Channel 31 receives the rights to broadcast 140 Disney movies and full-length animation titles, around 20 animated series and children's video game TV shows, as well as the latest "Funniest Home Videos" episodes. The deal also includes the following ABC television series: "Revenge", "Once Upon A Time", "The River" and "Missing".
Bagdat Kodzhakhmetov, Head of Channel 31: "Disney is our long-standing strategic partner and the first major entertainment provider with whom Channel 31 has signed a sizeable agreement. We have been cooperating for more than four years now, during which the Disney content has consistently held top positions in our ratings. We even had "Disney Days" during the New Year and Christmas holidays, which drew in huge audiences, and our viewers can also look forward to such animated films and movies as "The Lion King", "Cars", "Brave", "The Avengers" as well as "The Chronicles of Narnia", "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie series in weekend slots."
Sergey Petrov, Chief Broadcasting Officer of CTC Media: "Channel 31 has grown significantly and further consolidated its market position in recent years. One of the main factors contributing to this success is the cooperation with leading world players such as The Walt Disney Company. Competition on the Kazakh market is intense at the moment, and we must broadcast high-quality content to keep the attention of our viewers. Without a doubt, Disney content satisfies even the most discerning viewer."
Marina Zhigalova-Ozkan, CEO of The Walt Disney Company CIS: "The television market in Kazakhstan is developing rapidly, and we are striving to be in sync with the new trends. We are very glad that our agreement with Channel 31 will allow us to share the very best content created over many years with viewers in Kazakhstan."
About CTC Media
CTC Media is a leading independent media company in Russia, with operations throughout Russia and in a number of other CIS markets. It operates three free-to-air television networks in Russia – CTC, Domashny and Peretz – as well as Channel 31 in Kazakhstan and a TV company in Moldova, with a combined potential audience of over 150 million people. The international pay-TV version of the CTC channel is available in North America, Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, Central and South East Asia. CTC Media also has its own TV content production capabilities through its Story First Production subsidiary. The Company's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "CTCM". For more information about CTC Media, please visit www.ctcmedia.ru
The CTC Media, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=9587
About Channel 31
Based in Almaty, Kazakhstan's Channel 31 was launched in April 1992. On March 31, 2008, the network and content of Channel 31 were re-launched under a new entertainment format: Channel 31 and CTC Media concluded an agreement in 2008 to create a new holding – the Channel 31 group of companies. The Channel 31 network currently comprises its own documentary and entertainment programs, Hollywood blockbusters, as well as TV series and shows from some of the most popular production companies around the world. More detailed information about Channel 31 can be found here: www.31.kz.
About Disney in Russia
The Walt Disney Company CIS, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, was founded in April 2006. Marina Zhigalova-Ozkan is the CEO of The Walt Disney Company CIS. In Russia and the CIS, the company's business activities include: film production and distribution, stage productions, licensed DVD and Blu-ray™ sales, the production and distribution of TV content, the Disney channel, consumer product licensing – clothes, toys, children's products, stationary, food products, cosmetics etc., licensing publications – book and children's magazines, the production and distribution of mobile and internet content, computer and console game development and distribution, as well as producing and publishing social networking games. More information about the company can be found at www.disney.ru and www.waltdisney.ru.
About Disney globally
The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) (NYSE:DIS), a world leader in the entertainment industry, was founded by Walt Disney in 1923. Disney is one of the top ten most valuable brands in the world. The company's revenue amounted to U.S. $40.8 billion in 2011. TWDC operates in 172 countries and has 1,300 radio and TV stations, broadcasting in 53 languages.
TWDC is one of the world's largest licensors and the largest publishers of children's literature. Disney is the leading distributor of video, DVD and Blu-ray™ content in Europe and Latin America. TWDC's content archive comprises over 3,000 films. TWDC owns a variety of companies including Pixar, Marvel, ABC-International Television, ESPN, TouchStone and others.