Season Screen TV Review 2015 № 1

SSTR

2015

www.mkmediagroup.tv

Season Screen TV Review

TET TV CHANNEL: manual for success Interview with television manager Victor Shkrobot Page 16

NEWS, BROADCASTING, SALES NEWS, INTERVIEW, MEDIA REPORTS

Science Crew 13x5 min, HD

ISSUE 1, FEBRUARY 2015

special report

MK-DISTRIBUTION AT DISCOP AFRICA 2014

2014 IN MEDIA: THE WAY IT WAS

Media Tendency forecast for 2015 from experts of Ukraine, MENA, Baltic and CIS countries

CONTENTS

CONTENTS EDITORIAL Expert’s mind

4K: WHY NOT? MEDIA NEWS Analytical

2014 IN MEDIA: THE WAY IT WAS Why Ukraine start producing its own content and who will be best media seller in Russia this year?

Interview

TET: MANUAL FOR SUCCESS Program director of TET TV Channel Victor Shkrobot told about the key to success and answered how channel can overcome “idea crisis”

Report

MK-DISTRIBUTION VISITED DISCOP AFRICA 2014

3 4 6 10 16

20

Trip blog: media impressions

Media facts

HISTORY OF TV: A SHORT RETROSPECTIVE

2 | SEASON SCREEN TV REVIEW | ISSUE 1 FEBRUARY 2015

23

EDITORIAL

EDITOR’S NOTE It’s seems we live at the peak of informational age. Digital penetrated in our daily life as far as it was possible and scrolling-news-in-the-morning is already as usual as a cup-of-coffee-in-the-morning.

We are lucky because new media have been born before our eyes. Technology goes on and on: transmedia, 4K, 8K, 16K, flexible screens, photo series. It’s impossible to imagine what can be written in our next editorial note. We do not know and even can’t imagine the media of future but it will definitely have a great success. Media managers have solved the problem of idea crisis of media formats. It seems that now everything is possible to create, to film and to broadcast.

We are the watchers of high tech media.

MK-Distribution keeps up with the times. We are starting our own Magazine – Season Screen TV Review, media news and analytical materials. First of all, Magazine is created for media distributors.

Alyona Skazkina Editor

News, Broadcasting, Sales News, Interview, Media Reports.

Never miss a story.

Read us every 3 months.

ISSUE 1 FEBRUARY 2015 | SEASON SCREEN TV REVIEW | 3

EXPERT’S MIND | 4K: WHY NOT?

4K: WHY NOT?

Katerina Dmitrieva CEO, MK Media Group

Paintings of the world | 4K

2014 was difficult. Well known political situation influenced on all spheres of activity, especially on TV. In comparison with 2013 year, the volume of Ukraine media advertising market decreased by 20%. As a result, TV channel budgets for new high-quality content were reduced.

The same situation was observed in CIS countries and in Russia. Moreover, Russia had a Law banning advertising. The life of media market stopped, channels were broadcasting what they had bought before and repeating the same films again and again. We urgently needed to find a way out of crisis, and the most logical solution was to produce own content.

I can’t say that TV broadcasting schedule was filled with high-quality content, but many interesting projects were on air and this fact inspired us, MK Media Group, to engage more fundamentally in high-quality and original production of content in HD and 4K. As a basis we took the most worldwide and popular topics which are interesting for viewers: food shorts without dialogues, lifestyle, Good Mood Show, tourism, historical programs, etc.

In Ukraine there are no channels which are broadcasting in 4K (or Ultra HD), but now we can see the worldwide boom in content with such amplification and it is almost unavailable in the market. We decided to contribute to solving this problem and started to produce 4K project: “Little Foodies”, “Paintings of the World” and many others, we already have sold the last one in different countries.

Why our viewers don’t watch 4K? It is simple – they don’t have screens which allow to show the difference between Full HD and Ultra HD format. It must be TVs more than 40 inches.

So the main consumers of 4K are China and Western Europe, we take aim to provide this territories with the high quality content that was produced in Ukraine exactly for worldwide territories. MK is in trend, I can say it for sure!

Little Foodies | 4K

4 | SEASON SCREEN TV REVIEW | ISSUE 1 FEBRUARY 2015

NEWS

Star Media starts making the adaptation of American television series “Mentalist”. The main hero is a practicing psychologist, who helps Bureau of Investigation with crime investigations. American version of “Mentalist” was already shown on NTN Channel and had a great success.

Ukraine Media Group becomes an owner of digital TV channel “Esculap TV” which has license to broadcast in digital multiplex MX-5.

Channel’s format – non-fiction films about the world, programs and series about medicine and healthy life style. Previously sales of broadcasting were possible thanks to Ministry of Health of Ukraine.

Studio Kvartal 95 Production starts shooting the comic show “Laughing league”. The format is going to be the national alternative of Russian KVN. New project also is going to become first Ukrainian championship in humor and cover all big cities of Ukraine. It will be on air from spring 2015.

Georgian TV operator migrated to Russian technical platform.

“SmartLabs” company has announced the implementation of its interactive TV solution at Caucasus Online and the successful migration of the existing subscriber base to the upgraded TV service. Caucasus Online is Georgia’s leading broadband provider with an internet subscriber base of up to150, 000 homes. Following an open tender SmartLabs was selected to upgrade the existing IPTV infrastructure, with its market leading SmartTUBE Service Delivery Platform (SDP), SmartMEDIA suite of ondemand solutions and SML-482 STBs from SmartLabs. As a result of the IPTV service upgrade and the successful rebranding of Caucasus Online a significant increase in the demand for the service has been reported. In the near future SmartLabs and Caucasus Online plan to extend the TV services further with the introduction of OTT multiscreen services.

Namibia begins analogue TV switch-off. The Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) has switched off analogue television transmission in the central towns of Windhoek, Rehoboth and Okahandja. Working in collaboration with free-to-air stations One Africa Television and the religious channel Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), the signals were turned off on 31 January 2015. Digital terrestrial TV (DTT) coverage in the country is reportedly at 66.7%, with a target of 67% by 17 June 2015.

Namibia’s analogue viewers require a DTT set-top box to receive seven television channels, including NBC 1, 2 and 3, One Africa TV, TBN, EDU TV and the soon to be launched local music channel This TV as well as ten radio stations.

Japan started showing 8K works on small screens. An NHK board meeting on January 15th approved the public broadcaster’s three-year plan.

The NHK Board re-stated its vision towards the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and covering the event (and the Paralympics) in 8K (Super HiVision). Japan is going to become the first country in the world overcoming Ultra HD resolution.

6 | SEASON SCREEN TV REVIEW | ISSUE 1 FEBRUARY 2015

NEWS

Pay-TV thrieves in MENA. Pay-TV revenues in the Middle East and North Africa will grow by more than 83 per cent between 2010 and 2020 to $5.60 billion, according to a report from Digital TV Research.The Digital TV Middle East & North Africa Forecasts report states that Turkey and Israel are expected to contribute 52 per cent of the region’s pay TV revenues in 2020 total. From the $1,490 million pay TV revenues to be added between 2013 and 2020, Turkey will supply $359 million, Egypt $362 million and Saudi Arabia $257 million. Revenues in Israel will fall by $56 million over this period due to greater competition. Satellite TV will continue to dominate pay TV revenues, taking two-thirds of the 2020 total (similar to the 2013 proportion). Satellite TV revenues will reach $3.74 billion in 2020, up by $1 billion on 2013 and nearly double the 2010 total.

Dori Media sends international hit “Power Couple” to South Africa.

A 14-episode South African version of Power Couple, a reality format from the Dori Media Group catalogue, is being produced by Afrokaans for broadcast on M-Net. Power Couple watches as eight couples face extreme challenges that test how well they really know each other. The format was created by Abot Hameiri, a leading production house in the Israeli television market. The South African adaptation is set to premiere in prime time on M-Net this April. Nadav Palti, the CEO and president of Dori Media Group, remarked: “The fact that Power Couple will be the first Israeli non-scripted format to go on air in South Africa is an important milestone for Israeli formats, and we hope that we will be able to increase sales of Israeli shows to this region. And we are confident the show will be as successful in South Africa as it has been in other parts of the world”.

Ukraine bans all new Russian film releases. Ukraine has banned all new Russian film releases and expanded the criteria on its ban of earlier Russian films. Ukraine’s parliament, the Supreme Rada, amended the Ukrainian law to state that the exhibition of all films produced by Russian companies or private individuals after Jan. 1, 2014 are banned. In accordance with the amendments, all Russian films that “promote activities of law enforcement agencies and the military” are also banned regardless of the production year.

Several dozen Russian films, mostly focused on the Russian military and secret services, were banned in Ukraine, including films featuring Mikhail Porechenkov and Ivan Okhlobystin, who supported separatists. The ban comes into effect in April. Interfax news agency reported that Vyacheslav Telnov, head of the Russian culture ministry’s cinema department said, “At the internet era, actions of that kind make absolutely no sense.”

AMMAN - Jordan Radio and Television Corporation ( JRTVC ) is preparing to launch a new channel. “The new channel will focus on broadcasting youth, family and drama programmes”, JRTVC Director Ramadan Rawashdeh told in an interview. The corporation currently has one main satellite TV channel and another one dedicated for sports. The budget of the new channel has not yet been decided, since it has to be sent to the Lower House for deliberation and endorsement.

ISSUE 1 FEBRUARY 2015 | SEASON SCREEN TV REVIEW | 7

200x3 min, 2014, HD

ANALYTICAL | 2014 IN MEDIA: THE WAY IT WAS

2014 IN MEDIA: THE WAY IT WAS 2014 was a year of terrible instability. Change of the political emphasis on the world stage entailed changes in absolutely all areas. Media market always “follows” the political changes and, as a result, it has not remained. In what way does emphasis change on the domestic and foreign media arenas? About changes and trends, about popular and watchable, about technologies and innovations we asked leading media market experts. We propose you their expert forecast. What is forecasted for world media market 2015?

UKRAINE

Haytarma (2012). Film is dedicated to tragic period in the history of Crimean tatars.

Based on real events. Budget is 1 500 000 $.

To summarize what is going on in county-in-war (in a country which is at war) is not easy. Until 2014 Ukraine lived and developed in one media market scenario. Revolution of Dignity made its precise adjustments and set new directions of media development in Ukraine.

In comparison with 2013, the volume of Ukraine media advertising market decreased by 20%. At the beginning of 2014 predictions were far worse - marketers predicted all 40%. The reason is obvious – war. Experts titled such decline “media sanctions”.

Distributors of Russian goods had huge losses because of the real storm called “DO NOT BUY RUSSIAN” that swept from TV and social networking to supermarket’s shelves.

No one of big distributors would dare to advertise “enemy” products in primetime on the central channels. TV Managers of national channels also told about prohibition for everything what had “Russian roots”. A fewer advertising meant a fewer profit which can allow to buy new content.

Here experts note the particular trend of demand for national, Ukrainian. For example, TET TV channel is almost completely switched to its own production. Detailed interview about way it was you can read on page 16.

It should be noted that special achievement of the Ukrainian media market was screening of the first feature film about crimean tatars, “Haytarma”. The end of 2013 is worth attention because then the film was announced in Simferopol and it was before the Crimea annexation.

Filmmakers complained on ignoring and told that Ukrainian distributors hadn’t signed broadcasting contract for “Haytarma”. War and Russian aggression made everything that was needed for film to be shown. During 2014 film it was on air twice on one of the central channel 1+1, and was sold to Turkey, Canada, Tatarstan, Poland.

Experts note a significant downgrade of TV ratings of entertainment programs. Share of the most entertainment Ukrainian channel STB in the 2nd quarter fell from point 11.55% to 9.97%. (according to Nielsen).

10 | SEASON SCREEN TV REVIEW | ISSUE 1 FEBRUARY 2015

2014 IN MEDIA: THE WAY IT WAS | ANALYTICAL

“Haytarma” was on air twice on one of the central channel 1+1, and was sold to Turkey, Canada, Tatarstan, Poland”

“In 2014 people watched News and programs connected with it”

“INTER TV CHANNEL was picketed because of russian content in New Year night prime”

People watched News and programs connected with it.

During the second half of 2014 first six Ukrainian TV channels (“Inter”, “Ukraine”, STB, “1+1”, ICTV and “New Channel”) had 56 premiere series, 8 premiere films (produced in CIS) and 35 new TV shows (including the following seasons of previous projects). Prime time slots were filled with their own programs on military theme: “Brave hearts”, “The right for power” (1+1), “Special Report” (STB), “Insider” (ICTV).

News timing was increased.

By the end of the 2-nd quarter situation began to stabilize a little.

Viewers were getting tired of war and began to come back to entertaining and educational (so-called “relaxing”) content.

Experts pay special attention to information wars. The problem is not only Russia-Ukraine war. It is inside. “Inter” TV channel, refused to change the broadcasting network in accordance with the agreement between the central channels and as a result suffered from this. Repeatedly channel was picketed by employees of others media who were speaking about nationalization issue. From the beginning of its existence (since 1996) Russian soap opera (produced in or jointly with Russia, in Film. ua Star Media) was a visit card of this channel. “Inter” lost the-mostwaited-among-all-channels New Year’s night. “Inter” put on air traditional New Year’s “party” starring with Russian singers. It led to a scandal in social media and relevant authorities on the next day. There was discussed question of depriving channel of its license. Such a precedent occurred in Ukrainian media for the first time. Now experts do not hesitate to announce their conclusions and predict the birth of social media era in Ukraine.

2014 for the Ukrainian TV can be described as follows: when big broadcasters lost numbers of viewers, thematic broadcasters gained new.

Below there are Top 5 shows (films) that have been the most popular among the Ukrainian audience in 2014: ● Entertaining program (Kvartal 95 and programs of STB channel); ● Short series (production of Russia-Ukraine); ● News; ● Boxing matches; ● Feature Films.

RUSSIA

“Russians watch 53 minutes of News per day”

Russian media market is not depends on Ukrainian content and content from the West. “Soviet” component of Russian media dictates the conditions of development. And when the global media market (especially TV) has a storm not for the first year, Russia has a relative stability.

News and talk-shows are on the same level as in the past 2013 year.

Experts point out the average time of watching News amoung Russian audience. It is 53 minutes per day. This is quite a lot.

The January 1st in Russia entered into force a Law banning advertising on pay-TV. Experts called it another step towards centralization that would lead to complete destruction of freedom of speech in Russia. But ISSUE 1 FEBRUARY 2015 | SEASON SCREEN TV REVIEW | 11

ANALYTICAL | 2014 IN MEDIA: THE WAY IT WAS

“Music content is obvious leader”

Tatyana Gura

Sales and acqusitions manager MK-Distribution

after a while some amendments were made to Law. According to these amendments Law does not negate the advertising on pay-tv when channels are filled with national content (at least half full).

According to data of J’son & Partners Consulting, the highest proportion of watching pay-TV for the first half of 2014 had educational channels. The number is 22%. Second place had entertaining and movie channels: 16% for each. Sports and Cars Channels - 14%. Informational Channels - 10%.

“Perhaps, viewer switches to entertainment content and departs from News and information programs because of the economic situation in the country. Today viewers enjoy melodramatic soap operas and humorous stories” - says Tatyana Gura, sales and acquisitions manager, MK-Distribution.

Music content is obvious leader. “Russia 1” and “NTV” also produce their music programs, following the “The Voice” on “First Channel”. But they could not repeat success of “The Voice”. Musical program “Black & White” (“First Channel”) has highest TV ratings among new entertaining content. Russian channels buy foreign content, but very “carefully”.

They are guided by the fact that the contents should have national idea.

Experts point out that in 2015 in Russia will be still popular entertainment programs and series.

AFRICA. MENA

“Africa is a Football addicted more than any other territory”

We decided to include in our material information about African regions that are very problematic for media distributors. Transnational flows of information, which were forming over the years, show tendency that African countries receive more information than they give.

George Pocheptsov, media analyst, in one of his media research showed, that only in Japan, for example, there are more phones than in 50 countries of Africa. It is hard to imagine, but there are no newspapers in some of African countries. But Japan has more than 200 daily newspapers. This technique saturation at the same time reflects the direction of information flow. From North to South information moves on a large scale, larger than in opposite direction. This can also be explained by the difficulty in determining the media tendency in this region.

Adham Nasrallah, content manager of Safe Media s.a.r.l., told us about media market in Africa.

“During the 2014 Africa quickly switched from the normal TV set to several mobile terminals, it’s surprising how quickly Africans have mastered mobile technology. In 2014 the highlights were UEFA Champions League final and the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers which attracted the largest Adham Nasrallah number of viewers in a large number Content manager, Safe Media s.a.r.l.

12 | SEASON SCREEN TV REVIEW | ISSUE 1 FEBRUARY 2015

2014 IN MEDIA: THE WAY IT WAS | ANALYTICAL

“Viewers watch the programs in the right English (British) language”

Artem Zapolskyi

Sales and acqusitions manager MK-Distribution

of countries. Africa is a Football addicted more than any other territory!

The Television industry is not mathematics & there is no formula or a rule we can’t generalize for TV. What works in one place, audience, culture might not work somewhere else. In the Middle East, Eastern Europe and many other places, the Turkish series were a huge hit, but they were not popular in Africa. There are many barriers for Latin American products in African market despite the fact that these products are popular.

However, if we put the African television stations under a microscope we would notice that most of them have at least 2 or more slots for Drama &Soap Operas/ Telenovellas. The Latino Drama is still very popular, though their market share is very affected because of African Dramas, which Nollywood has proved as a main player on the market”.

“In Africa programs about medicine and health are very popular” - said Artem Zapolskyi, acquisitions and sales manager, MK-Distribution.

People in Africa are drawn to England model of society. Viewers watch the programs in the right English (British) language. They buy from Britain, France, Germany, Holland biggest share of their content. Islam countries completely deny everything from the West. More about Africa you can read on page 20.

BALTIC COUNTRIES “Latvia and Lithuania temporarily banned some Russian channels, including Russian “RTR” and “RTR Planet”

Anna Verbovska

Sales and acqusitions manager MK-Distribution

“The audience wants to see more reality, cross-media projects, both in show and in series”

Viewers’ preferences did not change. Series and documentary are the most requested content. Turkish soap operas are as popular in Baltic countries as in Europe.

Confrontation between Russia and Ukraine determined media trends not only in Ukraine in 2014 but in Baltic region. In June 2014 Latvia and Lithuania temporarily banned some Russian channels, including Russian “RTR” and “RTR Planet”. Together with Estonia they were planning to create the Russian-language channel, which would work as counterpropaganda. The third of population in Latvia is Russian speaking people.

Some channels were fined and switched off because of information misrepresentation. Experts note that Russian content is like a bomb which can blow up.

Documentary travel and adventure are stable required for viewers of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Viewers want more extreme and exciting programs, with bright leading historical docudrama.

We communicated with Anna Verbovska, acquisitions and sales manager of Baltic states, MK-Distribution, and asked what TV tendency can be popular for viewers in 2015: “The audience wants to see more reality, cross-media projects, both in show and in series. Special interest can have historical melodrama, what is different from traditional, and is filled with something new and unfamiliar for viewer. This is justified by the fact that Baltic is closer to Europe. And this is special market”.

ISSUE 1 FEBRUARY 2015 | SEASON SCREEN TV REVIEW | 13

26x7 min, In Production, HDx

TET: MANUAL FOR SUCCESS ''If I wrote scientific articles I would write about ''Vitalka''

16 | SEASON SCREEN TV REVIEW | ISSUE 1 FEBRUARY 2015

TET: MANUAL FOR SUCCESS | INTERVIEW

‘’Always young and fresh, provocative and interactive’’ – this is official TET TV channel slogan today. “Popular” is certainly can be added.

What is hidden behind everything colorful and successful? MK-Distribution had a conversation with the program director of TET TV Channel Victor Shkrobot and he told us about thirteen-year history of successful projects and his faith in projects without which there was no TET. Coverage: 92.4% Audience: 4-35 First on air: 24.01.1992

“Our channel talks with the audience younger than 35 years old. Not so many channels do that.

But we do”.

Why do people watch TET? V.S.: I want believe that we are easy. Content that we display is easy.

When you come home and your day was not so good, someone at the university, then someone at work, someone at school…Too busy day.

And I believe that person switches on TET and have rest. In most, this content is so-called background content, it can be switched on, and it can shed light on bright moments in our everyday life. Our channel talk with the audience younger than 35 years old. Not so many channels do that.

But we do.

From what did TET begin?

V.S.: I came to TET in 2011 and from that period TET has changed several times. It was period when we reformatted TET from Soviet TETEA-TETE (old name – ed.). We were oriented at youth. 2011 was the first year of experiments. And we increased ratings. This increase was possible because of channel TNT content (Russian channel - ed). Series “Univer” and “Real Boys” were new for Ukrainian audience. Only a few people believed it could go on the market. But we managed to do it. We were first who experimented with broadcasting network. We put 3-4 hours blocks of series. This was new for Ukrainian television. Ratings furiously began to go up. TET never had such experience. We had been channel among the others but suddenly we started to compete with the top channels.

Any barriers?

V.S.: Due to some internal arrangements we lost channel TNT content in 2012. Some TV rights that we have had been frozen and we could not show that content. It was a difficult stage. Actually, it was the second time when we tried to find our own content. We were very poorly trained for that, it was too late to learn how to do it and we had no time for preparation.

Main hero of the popular sitcom “Vitalka” aired on TET TV Chanell

What this period gave your channel?

V.S.: Frend’s Production (production company, Ukraine - ed) was real discovery for us. They made for us “The shopping goddess”. This project was more than successful. It had 12 seasons and 20 episodes. One year it was in its time-slot. There was a time when “Durnyev+1” appeared. It was also new for Ukrainian market. Interestingly, this project never had high share on TV, but it was very popular among the Internet audience.

This enabled us to attract attention of viewer who does not watch TV. Everybody named your series «Vitalka» a real breakthrough. Tell us in what way did this happen?

V.S.: You know, if I wrote scientific articles I would write about “Vitalka”.

As for me, it seems like we touched some kind of in-depth inquiry of ISSUE 1 FEBRUARY 2015 | SEASON SCREEN TV REVIEW | 17

INTERVIEW | TET: MANUAL FOR SUCCESS

Ukrainian audience. It was very easy. Bircha (author of series, ed.) came and proposed it. Frankly, at that moment we had rather different point of view. It was like cake thrown at the wall - that will cling and what will not (laughing).

“We explained to ourselves that our channel is for girl and for her boyfriend. What she watches, but what he can watch too”.

What ratings did series have and what did you expect?

V.S.: We expected that it would give us 3-4 %. But first series were 5-6 %. Moreover, it was unbelievable, time slot where it was did not matter, the audience found it everywhere and watched.

Did the most successful Ukrainian production team Kvartal 95 produce content for your channel?

V.S.: “Kvartal” came to us in 2013 with offer to produce “Country U.” This is sketch show and our audience accepted it wwell. By the way, this project helped us to understand who else is our potential viewer. We explained to ourselves that our channel is for girl and for her boyfriend. What she watches, but what he can watch too. Content searching goes on and on.

What projects has failed?

V.S.: We had such. We tried to make our “Golden Youth” Ka$ta (young people lifestyle in Kyiv, ed.). We tried to make our “Golden Youth” Ka$ta (young people lifestyle in Kyiv, ed.). We made “Ray Goodbye” (international format “Tempted”), it was tests for participant. But for some reason these projects were not success. I can’t forget project “Stop, I fell in love!”

(International format “Babes on the bus”). Girls walked around cities and looked for a boyfriend. It was a project of real emotions, and we watched it.

At some moment we began to poke fun and audience did not understand it.

2014 was very difficult for Ukrainian media. Many channels banned Russian content. What difficulties did you have?

V.S.: What Russian did we have? Let me think…. It was “Kitchen” (published on 1 + 1, ed) “Two father and two sons”. The rest was ours. In 2014 we revised our broadcasting schedule, changed the usage conditions of the product and started to use it more efficiently. The fact is that Russian product is quite expensive for channel, European is cheaper. But our audience does not watch European content. Viewer is ready to watch 5-6 series of it and that’s it. We do not have channels with European series, except NTN with CSI series. Perhaps, Russian content is closer to us, Ukrainians?

“My idea is following: the less regulations on the market, the more active and developed market is”.

What is you expert opinion regarding the current situation? Can recent events between Ukraine and Russia wean our viewers from Russian product?

V.S.: II think it should be the next logical step. Now the volume of Russian content decreased because of public and National Council (The National Television and Radio Broadcasting Council of Ukraine, ed) pressure.

Channels want risk less. I do not think Ukraine will be completely free from Russian content in a year or two. Moreover, I want to believe that soon we will be simply neighbors, we will show their content and they will show ours. Reducing of Russian content can lead to holes in broadcasting schedule.

Patch them can with local content. I believe that soon Ukraine will produce its own content. For example, ICTV starts gorgeous adaptation of one project.

1 + 1 starts ukrainian series, FILM UA makes gorgeous Ukrainian serials,

18 | SEASON SCREEN TV REVIEW | ISSUE 1 FEBRUARY 2015

which are popular in Russia.

Of course, one day issue price of Ukrainian channels finally will become business, I believe. Then series produced on West will cost $ 500 for episode and will not collect viewers, but will compensate themselves. And viewers will start to get used to it. This process must be started. Who starts it - will win, I guess.

“Ukrainian channels finally will become business, I believe.

This process must be started.

Who starts it - will win, I guess”.

What your formats were sold abroad?

V.S.: “The Goddess Shopping” was sold Russian TV. “People of Fashion”, “Queen” (international format “Promzillas”) also were sold Russia. Rating of “Ladies farmers” were not bad, 9-10 in morning prime time . It is good for Ukrainian content in Russian set.

Media channels communications changes with time. TV replaces radio, Internet replaces TV. What is next?

V.S.: From TV point of view, of course, you must somehow adapt to global change. I do not want to get in that category, who buries TV (smiles).

It happened many times during 10 last years, but it continues to live well and successfully. Some symptoms show it begins to modernize already: platforms that appear (Netflix, Megogo, Divan TV), etc. Television merges with Internet.

For Ukraine it is less urgent, because we do not have Internet everywhere yet.

I think, Air TV will not disappear, because there is a category of people which are 50-60 years old and it is difficult for them to use Internet. That’s why we will have analogue or digital TV at least for next 10-20 years. The question is, under what conditions development can be possible. My idea is following: the less regulations on the market, the more active and developed market is.

ISSUE 1 FEBRUARY 2015 | SEASON SCREEN TV REVIEW | 19

Vladimir Osaulenko and Artem Zapolskyi at Discop Africa

DISCOP AFRICA 2014 In November, 2014 our distributors had a work trip to Discop Africa. It’s one thing if you go to Africa for resort and it’s completely different thing to visit Africa to provide TV content.

Read in our blog about our most unusual journey and the way we tested Africa’s tastes.

Johannesburg Zoo

Before our departure we heard very different rumors about Africa.

They were very various: we heard we can be killed because of our white skin, the second minute we heard we can be paid with diamonds for our programs. The fact that Africa is a region of contrasts we realized only when we arrived. After we had delicious breakfast in restaurant in five meters we saw a lot of people queueing for bottle of free cola…

“We will have exhibition and meeting with colleagues in the afternoon and see the city and have fun in the evening” - we thought, sitting in Kiev. After arriving, our forecast, of course, came true, but only halfway. At the first day we found out that there were nowhere to go at night in the city. All shops close at 4 pm. First two days Vova and me just tasted wine at the hotel and monitored local TV channels. There are interesting museums such as the Museum of gold

20 | SEASON SCREEN TV REVIEW | ISSUE 1 FEBRUARY 2015

DISCOP AFRICA 2014 | REPORT

“All shops closed at 4 pm”.

mining, but they were all closed at 04.05 pm! No entertainment centers, cinemas or other things.

Next evening we decided to go to Johannesburg, the capital. From citizens we heard a lot of horror stories about murders and danger.

After local people had told us we would be shot as soon as we go out of the cab we doubted. The big surprise for us was that taxi drivers didn’t agree to take us there for any price! So, we left this venture not finished. Let this be the reason to come back.

District where we located was called Sandton, (district of Johannesburg). It’s a small town where almost all citizens are foreigners.

They came here for business. Indigenous Africans live here, but only in suburbs, and work as a staff.

“Almost all citizens are foreigners.

They came here for business”.

A lot of people queueing for bottle of free cola...

On the last day we decided to visit an African Safari. And it was worth seeing. Unlike stone megapolis Johannesburg with its usual skyscrapers and excellent roads in Safari we saw the real Africa, zebra, springbok (African antelope- symbol of South Africa), porcupines, giraffes, ostriches, cheetahs, hyenas, tigers and lions. All are free, the area is fully protected, and we had no problems riding in a car with open windows. I dreamed to touch little lions and I did it.

Things shocked us: ● Houses of white-skinned people covered with high-voltage wires. ● All shops are under ground. Security protection. ● Widespread information about Ebola.

And, yes, diamonds are not money in Africa :) ISSUE 1 FEBRUARY 2015 | SEASON SCREEN TV REVIEW | 21

HISTORY OF TV: A SHORT RETROSPECTIVE | MEDIA FACTS

HISTORY OF TV: A SHORT RETROSPECTIVE

“Baird was able to get what he wanted: on flickering screen with empty boxes human head appear”.

TV history began with competition between two engineers. American Ernst Alexanderson was trying to beat the Scotsman John Logie Baird in creating images of image transmitter. In 1925 Baird was able to get what he wanted: on flickering screen with empty boxes human head appear.

In 1928 без on another continent Alexanderson presented to citizens his district live show – a smoking man. In only four months people could watch such programs four times a week.

July 3 in 1928, US. The first TV set in the world was sold. It cost 75 dollars без коми, which was equal to two average salaries of ordinary worker. Two months later on air was released production of “The Messenger of the Queen”. In 1937 great progress caused connected and established cathode-ray tube. Soon such devices appeared in America.

Later British joined to the TV creation process.

At the end of 1950-th nine of ten Americans could watch television at home.

FIRST TV BROADCAST

1975

First TV Broadcast in Soviet Union (CIS)

AFRICA 1950-1959: Nigeria, Algeria, Libya 1960-1969: Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, DR Congo, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Zambia, Zimbabwe Madagascar, Tunisia, Morocco, Niger, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal

Countries without TV

1970-1979: South Africa, Angola, Tanzania, Central African Republic, Togo, Benin, Guinea 1980-1989: Mali, Mauritania, Chad, Cameroon, Somali, Mozambique, Namibia, Lesotho

• Solomon Islands • Kiribati (closed in 2013)

1990-1999: Malawi, Rwanda, Burundi, Eritrea, Guinea-Bissau After 2000: Botswana

ISSUE 1 FEBRUARY 2015 | SEASON SCREEN TV REVIEW | 23

SEASON SCREEN TV REVIEW February 2015

Published by MK Media Group DENYS MIKHEIEV General Director & Publishing Director KATERYNA DMYTRIIEVA Chief Executive Officer & Editor ALYONA SKAZKINA Editor ANDRIY BEZHYNOV Design www.mkmediagroup.tv content@mk-distribution.com www.facebook.com/tv.mkmediagroup www.linkedin.com/company/mk-distribution +38 (044) 288-08-92, +38 (044) 234-03-88 Ukraine, 01030, Kyiv, 8 Lysenko st., Office 39