TV3 and Dozhd compete for vacant Russian DTT slot

Russian channels TV3 and Dozhd will compete for the slot in the country’s second digital-terrestrial multiplex freed up after state-backed broadcaster RTR withdrew its plan to make a sports channel available.

Under the terms set by regulator Roskomnadzor, the new channel must air round the clock free-to-air and carry a minimum of 55% Russian produced programming.

Last year the regulator announced 10 successful applicants for the second multiplex. In addition to RTR’s Sport, these were Ren TV, TV Tsentr, CTC, Domashniy, NTV+’s Sport+, Zvezda, Mir, TNT and Muz-TV. Following a presidential order that TV Tsentr should be included in the first multiplex, Russian Orthodox channel SPAS TV secured the vacant slot.