NBC’s Russian channels to take ads

Hollywood studio NBC Universal’s Russian Universal and Sci FI channels are to start carrying advertising. 

The channels, which launched last year have been transmitting advertising-free, but will now carry ads. A spokeswoman told Informa Telecoms & Media that Gazprom will be handling local ad sales for the channels. NBC also operates the Hallmark and KidsCo channels in Russia. Hallmark carries advertising but KidsCo, a joint venture with Cookie Jar and Nelvana, does not.