MOSCOW, Oct. 4, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CTC Media, Inc. ("CTC Media" or "the Company") (Nasdaq:CTCM), Russia's leading independent media company, announces that CTC Media's Channel 31 in Kazakhstan has recorded an all-time record monthly audience share in September 2011. According to TNS Central Asia, Channel 31's audience share reached 19.0% of 6-54 year old viewers in September, up from the previous monthly record audience share of 18.5% in October 2008 and up significantly year-on-year from 11.9% in September 2010.
The channel also recorded its highest ever target audience share of 17.7% in the third quarter and 16.0% for the nine months of 2011 (a significant improvement from 11.4% and 12.3% shares for the respective periods of 2010). Thus, Channel 31 has further strengthened its position as the second most watched television channel in Kazakhstan, as well as the most watched national broadcaster with a considerable proportion of Kazakh language content.
Anton Kudryashov, Chief Executive Officer of CTC Media, commented: "Channel 31 in Kazakhstan continues to perform very strongly. One also has to take into account the impact of the substantial modifications to the TNS Gallup measurement panel, the higher level of competition from the growing number of non-free-to-air channels and major changes in the market environment, all of which make direct comparisons with the Channel's previous 2008 record audience share difficult. While we have a new record audience share of 19.0%, if you take these factors into consideration and replicate this new record audience share under market conditions in 2008, we actually believe that the audience share growth has been more pronounced and we estimate that the new record is equivalent to 22.0%. We are equally delighted with the contribution of the channel's rapidly growing revenues to CTC Media, which increased 56% year-on-year in US dollar terms in the first half of 2011."
Marat Devlet-Kildeyev, Head of the CIS Group of CTC Media, commented: "We are delighted with the progress Channel 31 continues to make, just a few months since we reported our record performance in the second quarter of 2011. Channel 31 broadcast plenty of high-rating content in the third quarter, including a weekend movie slot, internally produced Kazakh-language programs and Turkish series. The sensational premiere of "Love and Punishment", which was launched in mid-August, had an average audience share of 29.7% in the target demographic with a peak audience share of 38%. Our Programming Department headed by Alfiya Bayburina, along with Evgeniya Gulyaeva, acting General Director of Channel 31 and Igor Syrtsov, General Producer of Channel 31 help us to provide our audience with very high-quality and demanded content. Our next goal is not only to retain our leading positions in the local market but also to reach new heights."
About Channel 31
Channel 31 is headquartered in Almaty in Kazakhstan, and began broadcasting on April 12, 1992. From March 31, 2008, Channel 31 re-focused into a pure entertainment channel. TV-radio company Channel 31 and CTC Media entered into an agreement and created a new company, "Channel 31 Group" in 2008. The programming schedules consist of content from CTC Media and other Russian, local and foreign content providers. The majority of Channel 31's free-to-air broadcasting in Kazakhstan consists of own-produced Kazakh language programs.
For further information, please visit: www.31.kz
About CTC Media, Inc.
CTC Media is a leading independent media company in Russia, with operations throughout Russia and elsewhere in the CIS. It operates three free-to-air television networks in Russia - CTC, Domashny and DTV - 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, Israel and Germany. CTC Media also has its own TV content production capabilities through its subsidiary Story First Production. The Company's common stock is traded on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "CTCM". For more information on CTC Media, please visit www.ctcmedia.ru.
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