OTR - Public Television of Russia

History

2013

Ministry of Finance: Orders for a sotsreklama need to be directed to OTR

At the beginning of 2013 the government on behalf of the Ministry of Finance suggested to direct orders for social advertizing which is placed by the different ministries and departments, on OTR. The Ministry of Finance even directed in Ministry of Labor, FTS, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Fund of compulsory health insurance and other departments a request for the production costs planned for 2013 and distribution of social advertizing to define how many means OTR can receive, executing orders of the interested federal bodies.

Start of the channel and insignificant contributions of the audience

OTR was started in May, 2013 and thought as the Russia's first TV channel which should be sponsored by TV viewers. Almost from the very beginning OTR met financial difficulties.

In the summer of 2013 the Deputy Minister of Telecom and Mass Communications Alexey Volin advised OTR to optimize expenses.

The arrived contributions from TV viewers were insignificant — in 10 months of work the channel managed to collect only 2.2 million rubles. At the same time not the audience, but the Minister of Telecom and Mass Communications Nikolai Nikiforov (he transferred OTR of 200 thousand rubles to the account) and the head of Federal Agency for Press and Mass Communications Mikhail Seslavinsky acted as the most noticeable donors at all (entered 100 thousand rubles).

In 2013 the associate director of the channel Igor Naygovzin asked deputies of the State Duma to make the amendment to the budget which would increase financing of channel by 300 million rubles. According to him, 350 million rubles which are provided by the channel for purchase of content are not enough. However parliamentarians OTR refused additional financing.

2014

State subsidies of 1.5 billion rub

The budget OTR still forms from state subsidies. So, for 2014 OTR was received by 1.5 billion rubles and also expects the subsidies distributed by Rospechat. But at a stage of discussion of the budget the CEO of TV channel Anatoly Lysenko said that 1.5 billion rubles to the channel are not enough for content production. The OTR channel constantly tries to find alternative financing sources, including to involve private donations. The Minister of Telecom and Mass Communications Nikolai Nikiforov offered 200 thousand rubles, and the head of Federal Agency for Press and Mass Communications Mikhail Seslavinsky — 100 thousand rubles.

The lack of financing forces OTR to think of placement on air of social advertizing, Cableman writes.

Staff reduction half

At the end of January, 2014 the CEO of TV channel Anatoly Lysenko said that staff reductions will begin only as a last resort.

In March, 2014 it became known that a half of employees of Public Television of Russia (PTR) left TV channel by agreement of the parties. Write Izvestia with reference to several sources on TV channel about it. It is noted that under reductions, mostly, director's structure and news editions got.

The CEO of TV channel Anatoly Lysenko comments on reductions, referring to the taking place restructuring.

'We dismiss nobody, reductions are carried out within restructuring. At someone terms of agreements come to an end, someone leaves at own will' — he told.

The employees who left TV channel say that dismissals happened not absolutely at own will. The general meeting was not as there was also no detailed explanation of a situation by the management. Before agreement signature between the parties, the editors of departments telling about difficulties OTR and need of dismissals talked to employees. It is noted that the workers who wrote resignation letters by agreement of the parties will receive two salaries.

Employees OTR note that the staff of TV channel is cut down already more, than half.

Stop of purchases of third-party content

In April, 2014 it became known that "Public Television of Russia" (PTR) refuses purchases of third-party content. Izvestia was reported about it by the CEO OTR Anatoly Lysenko. The channel will replace them with own transfers. So far OTR continues to work with producers which provide essential discounts for the products.

In 2013 the channel bought nearly a half of the content. Because of financial difficulties he had to cut down at first almost twice the journalistic staff, and now and to refuse purchase of transfers.

— We did not look at their ratings. Left only those which we make, and those which creators agree to reset the price — Lysenko explains.

What TV programs refused OTR, Lysenko did not specify. The TV channel buys generally ready telecasts, documentary and movies — 350 million rubles were selected for content in 2013. As found out Izvestia, at OTR there are no anchor suppliers: the TV channel buys programs and movies from the different companies. The largest of them — Leader TV studio (belongs to Tatyana Kovalyova and Alla Fomina). This production company removes projects for Channel One, Culture, Russia, NTV, TV Center, Capital and Muz TV. In 2012 Leader TV gained 215.4 million rubles from sale. By request OTR is also engaged in shooting of transfers:

• "Planet of media",
• Lennauchfilm,
• film videostudio Youth,
• YUMP TV,
• companies of Neofields,
• Mellon, etc.

— Expense optimization is still poorly notable, Lysenko says. Commercial could improve a financial status OTR, however the charter of channel prohibits its demonstration. Therefore, according to Lysenko, the channel seriously thought of sponsor's advertizing which, according to him, does not contradict^[1].

— We will begin to attract sponsors when we are sure that it legally does not contradict the law. Yet with sponsors we have no specific arrangements, but we conduct with them negotiations.

Looked narrowly at the sponsor's projects "Public Television" still a year ago. However specific negotiations then it was not announced.

According to Lysenko, Russians are not ready to pay in ruble for the consumed telecontent. Lysenko considers experience of Dozhd TV channel which as a result of a week marathon collected 40 million rubles in the form of donations unrepresentative as unlike OTR Dozhd has an opportunity to run commercial on the air.

Start of collecting of donations

"The public television of Russia" announced in July, 2014 carrying out the next round of collecting of donations in the address. The channel expects to get support from the audience whom, according to the management OTR, for a year of the existence it pleased with quality of the released content and lack of advertizing.

In the official statement of TV channel announcing start of collecting of donations it is noted that "OTR is an independent platform for discussion of the most current problems concerning our country. We hope that for a year of broadcasting we managed to justify the confidence of the viewer. Transfers OTR are not interrupted by advertizing. We – not commercial TV channel. And we need your support".

Notes