MOSCOW, April 13, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CTC Media Inc. ("CTC Media" or the "Company") (Nasdaq:CTCM), a leading Russian independent media company, today announced the launch of free movie streaming services on its online properties, which include ctc.ru, domashniy.ru, peretz.ru, videomore.ru.
Following the launch, viewers will be able to access nearly 50 movies and will enjoy access to 40 more by the end of 2015. CTC Media aims to expand the selection to 120 of the top movies in the Paramount Pictures portfolio by the end of 2016. Available films will include blockbusters such as "Transformers," "Mission Impossible," and "Cowboys & Aliens," among others. The service will also feature films with avid fan followings, such as "Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away," "Katy Perry: Part of Me" and "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never."
Yuliana Slashcheva, Chief Executive Officer of CTC Media, said, "We are offering our viewers complimentary access to a quality portfolio of films, which is a unique offering in the market. This new service allows viewers to watch a wide selection of their favorite films through our online properties. This is another important step toward the realization of our strategic goal to transform CTC Media into a content-focused broadcaster across all media and geographies. This new service will also be monetized through advertising."
Each website will offer its own selection of films, which relate to the individual themes of the corresponding channels. The libraries will have individual names such as, "Filmoteka" on www.ctc.ru, "Domashny Films" on http://www.domashniy.ru, "Films on Peretz" on www.peretz.ru, and "Film" on www.videomore.ru.
Movie offerings will expand over time and will include items from other leading production houses as well. In addition the service will expand to mobile platforms as well as to Smart TV platforms, where movies will be available for streaming through a subscription plan.
Alexei Pivovarov, Director of Transmedia Products, said, "We are offering content to our viewers for free because this is the most attractive model for Russian consumers. In addition, we plan to provide our viewers with even more premium models of content consumption in the very near future."
About CTC Media Inc.
CTC Media is the leading Russian independent media company. The group manages four television channels in Russia (CTC, Domashny, Peretz and CTC Love) as well as Channel 31 in Kazakhstan and a TV company in Moldova with combined audience over 150 million viewers. The international version of CTC Channel is available in North America, Europe, Central Asia, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, the Middle East and Kyrgyzstan. The international version of Peretz is available in Belarus and Kyrgyzstan as well. CTC Media also owns several digital entertainment media assets including videomore.ru, domashniy.ru, ctc.ru and peretz.ru. CTC Media is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol CTCM.
CTC Media is a corporation registered in Delaware (the U.S.) which owns, directly and indirectly, 100% of shares of Russian legal entities whose main business is broadcasting entertaining TV programs in Russia and the CIS. The shares of CTC Media are traded on NASDAQ, an American stock exchange. Shareholders of CTC Media include MTG Russia AB (100% of its shares are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Swedish public company Modern Times Group MTG AB), which holds about 39% of shares of CTC Media; Telcrest Investments Limited (a private company in Cyprus, whose beneficial owners comprise Russian legal entities and individuals) holding about 25% of the shares of CTC Media; as well as public shareholders including American and European institutional and retail investors holding the remaining shares of the company, which total 36%.
For more information please visit www.ctcmedia.ru