Russia’s new sports television channel Match TV will launch on Sunday, with officials outlining that it will seek to provide a new perspective on sport.
The new channel, which is backed by Russian media group Gazprom Media Holding, will commence broadcasting on a free-to-air basis on November 1, with sports content having been put together for its launch over recent months.
The concept of the channel, its key faces and its programmes were revealed at a presentation in Moscow yesterday (Thursday). Match TV will have live television broadcast rights for the majority of leading sports events.
It will broadcast Russian Premier League football and domestic basketball, along with the Formula One motor racing championship, American football league the NFL and leading boxing events. Dmitry Chernyshenko, director general of Gazprom Media, said Match TV will hold a budget of R6.5bn (€93.6m/$103.4m) for sports rights acquisitions in 2016.
Broadcasting on a 24-hour basis, Match TV will also produce news programming, weekly reviews, talk-shows and reality shows, feature and documentary films and series about sports and lives of athletes. There will also be shows on general health, wellness and healthy eating.
Chernyshenko said: “We are creating a dynamic, cutting-edge and inspiring TV channel which will give the audience a new angle, new perspective on sport, show the strength, determination and energy of athletes that each life story and victory belies. We hope that the channel will win the minds and hearts of our viewers and become a champion of sports and healthy lifestyles.
“It's a fully-fledged cross-platform media outlet, not just a niche, specialty channel. The content will also be made available through a variety of platforms, including web, social media, mobile applications and radio, under the umbrella brand of Match TV.”