THE DA VINCI CHANNEL GETS RUSSIAN TREATMENT
By Kristin Brzoznowski
World Screen News
February 2, 2010
STOCKHOLM: Viasat Broadcasting has entered into a joint venture with
Da Vinci Media to launch a Russian version of the Da Vinci Learning
channel in Russia and CIS countries.
Da Vinci Learning is a knowledge and education channel that launched
in Poland in 2007. The channel has since expanded to Romania, Turkey,
Hungary, Ukraine, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Macedonia. The JV with Viasat
will see the creation, operation and distribution of a Russian version
of the channel in Russia and CIS countries such as Belarus, Georgia,
Armenia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.
"The Da Vinci channel is strengthening and complementing our
already strong portfolio of pay-TV channels broadcast in the Russian
language," said Irina Gofman, the CEO of MTG Russia and head of Viasat
Broadcasting’s operations in the region. "Da Vinci is providing the
best science and knowledge TV programs from across the globe."
"I am delighted to work with Viasat Broadcasting, with its long
experience and excellent track record," added Ferdinand Habsburg, the
founder of Da Vinci Media. "They are the perfect partner for us for
entering the Russian-speaking countries. We look forward to continue
to build the success story of Da Vinci Learning and our mission to
provide entertaining and enthralling learning, with a Russian version
in a joint venture with Viasat. We expect that an entertaining and
educational TV channel will appeal to Russian viewers, as Russia has
a long tradition of learning and science."