OREANDA-NEWS. August 21, 2012. CTC Media, Inc. (“CTC Media” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: CTCM), Russia’s leading independent media company, has announced the signing of a multi-year output deal between its Channel 31 in Kazakhstan and one of the world’s leading television distribution companies, Warner Bros. International Television Distribution. Under the terms of the agreement, which marks a first for the Kazakhstan market, Channel 31 has acquired the exclusive rights to broadcast a diverse range of feature films and television series from Warner Bros, reported the press-centre of CTC Media.   

This agreement marks a first not only as it represents the first exclusive agreement between Warner Bros. and Channel 31, but the first time an exclusive output deal has been done in Kazakhstan. Channel 31 will have the rights to broadcast a wide array of movies, television series and animation from Warner Bros.’ vast library, including many titles which have never before been broadcast in Kazakhstan.

Marat Devlet-Kildeyev, CTC Media’s Head of International Broadcasting: “We have been working towards signing this output deal which is crucial for both parties and a first for the Kazakh market, for a long time now. Our previous agreement gave us some exclusive rights, but Warner Bros. worked equally with other channels. We have now become the main strategic partner of this major studio, whose content is included into the treasury of world cinema. We are happy to have the opportunity to show Kazakh viewers such hits as “The Matrix”, “The Lord of the Rings”, “Lethal Weapon”, as well as “The Hangover” and its sequel. Our viewers will be the first to see the latest “Batman” movie, and a whole range of new releases in 2013-2015. The signing of this deal marks the continuation of Channel 31’s strategy developed back in 2009 and aimed at ensuring the channel only broadcasts high-quality and most interesting content from world leaders”.

Bagdat Kodzhakhmetov, CEO of Channel 31: “Channel 31 is the first channel on the Kazakhstan market to sign such an output deal with Warner Bros., which is testament to the effective development and continued growth of our business. The agreement gives us the exclusive right to show an enormous range of popular movies and animations. In 2012, we already plan to show “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”, “Inception”, “Clash of the Titans”, “Sex and the City 2” and a range of other blockbusters. The combination of our own original content along with these masterpieces of world cinema will ensure that the diverse needs of our audience are completely satisfied.”

Jeffrey R. Schlesinger, President, Warner Bros. International Television: “Our diverse slate of content, which ranges from high-budget tentpole films to quality comedy and dramatic television series are strong performers in the Kazakhstan television market. Recognizing that, we are impressed that CTC Media has stepped up and secured the exclusive rights to this slate and we look forward to working with everyone at Channel 31 to market these shows and movies to the widest-possible audience.”