First Channel
First Channel is Russia's statutorily mandated national television broadcaster, transmitting 24/7 free-to-air programming across the Russian Federation and operating a subscription online cinema, mobile apps, Hbb-TV, and international distribution to Russian-speaking audiences worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersMoscow, Russia
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What First Channel does
First Channel (Первый канал) is a Russian national television broadcaster operating as ОАО «Первый канал», a Moscow-headquartered open joint stock company founded in 1996 to succeed the Russian Television (RTV) network. It is the statutorily mandated broadcaster of all-Russia mandatory public channels, transmitting continuously 24/7 via digital terrestrial multiplex positions across the entire territory of the Russian Federation, with no charge to viewers. Its programming portfolio spans flagship news (Vremya), analytical and talk shows (Muzhskoe/Zhenskoe, Bolshaya Igra), long-running entertainment franchises (Golos, Pole Chudes, Davay pozhenimsya, Modnyy Prigovor, Chto? Gde? Kogda?, Umnitsy i Umniki), and a slate of prestige original drama series and biopics (Trotskiy, Vertinskiy, Ekaterina Velikaya, Taynstvennaya Strast, Souz Spaseniya, Ugryum-reka, Viking, Avgust, Lyubov Sovetskogo Soyuza), co-produced with partners including Russian Project Studio, Red Square, STV Film Company, and the Russian Ministry of Culture.
The technology stack combines digital terrestrial television broadcasting with Hbb-TV hybrid broadcast broadband interactive services, a subscription-based online cinema (kino.1tv.ru) for ad-free video-on-demand, dedicated iOS and Android mobile applications, and an international distribution portal (1tv.com) serving Russian-speaking audiences abroad. The company operates on a freemium monetization model: primary revenue comes from advertising placements during programming, supplemented by monthly subscription fees on kino.1tv.ru and content licensing. End customers are the mass Russian-speaking general population viewing via free-to-air, premium subscribers consuming original content ad-free, and major advertisers purchasing commercial inventory across the channel's multiple distribution surfaces. Konstantin Ernst is identified as General Director, and the channel is self-positioned as the most popular Russian-language television channel globally and the recognized leader of Russian television.
First Channel firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- First Channel
- Legal name
- ОАО «Первый канал»
- Website
- https://1tv.ru
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- First Channel is Russia's statutorily mandated national television broadcaster, transmitting 24/7 free-to-air programming across the Russian Federation and operating a subscription online cinema, mobile apps, Hbb-TV, and international distribution to Russian-speaking audiences worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
First Channel industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Broadcast Television Services
- NAICS
- Television Broadcasting Stations (51612), Television Broadcasting Stations (516120), Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (5161), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (5162)
- SIC
- Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)
- akta.pro primary industry
- National General-Entertainment Broadcast Networks (MPABAAAA)
Keywords
Where First Channel is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Moscow
- HQ country
- Russia
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
First Channel business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Advertising Revenue: The channel generates primary revenue through advertising placements during programming. First Channel is described as 'крупнейших рекламодателей' (one of the largest for advertisers), indicating significant advertising income from commercial breaks.
- Subscription Revenue: Subscription fees from the online cinema platform kino.1tv.ru offering ad-free viewing of premium content including original series and films.
- Broadcasting Rights: Distribution of mandatory public broadcast channels and licensing of original television content and film productions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free Terrestrial Broadcasting - Basic tier with mandatory public channels |
| Subscription | Monthly | Premium Online Subscription - Ad-free access to online cinema content |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels4 records
First Channel product offering
Product offeringCore offering
First Channel operates a free-to-air national Russian television channel providing 24/7 news, entertainment, sports, and original programming via digital terrestrial multiplexes across all Russian territories. The broadcaster extends its offering through the subscription-based online cinema kino.1tv.ru, which streams original series and films on an ad-free basis, complemented by mobile applications, Hbb-TV interactive services, and international broadcasting via 1tv.com.
Product overview
First Channel (Первый канал) is Russia's leading national television broadcaster offering a comprehensive media portfolio. The core offering is the free-to-air 24/7 TV channel featuring news (program «Время»), entertainment shows («Голос», «Поле чудес», «Давай поженимся!», «Модный приговор», «Что? Где? Когда?»), and original drama series («Троцкий», «Вертинский», «Екатерина Великая», «Таинственная страсть», «Август», «Любовь Советского Союза», «Союз спасения», «Угрюм-река», «Викинг»). The product ecosystem includes the subscription-based online cinema kino.1tv.ru for ad-free on-demand viewing, mobile applications for iOS/Android, and Hbb-TV interactive television services. The platform broadcasts internationally via 1tv.com and operates digital TV services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Kino.1tv.ru: Online cinema and video-on-demand platform operated by First Channel offering streaming of series, films, and original programming
- Телесемейство
Products and services
- First Channel (Первый канал) — National TV Channel The main national Russian free-to-air television channel offering 24/7 live broadcasts, news, analytical programs, entertainment shows, sports coverage, and original drama series for the general Russian-speaking audience.
- Kino.1tv.ru — Online Cinema Subscription Subscription-based online streaming service offering ad-free access to First Channel's original series, films, and exclusive content on demand.
- First Channel Mobile Applications Mobile applications for iOS and Android enabling users to watch live broadcasts and on-demand content from First Channel.
- Hbb-TV Interactive Television Hybrid broadcast broadband TV service enabling interactive features alongside traditional broadcast content on compatible devices.
Companies that use First Channel
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
First Channel technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
First Channel partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Кинокомпания СТВ (STV Film Company)coreFilm production company responsible for 'Давай разведемся!' (Let's Get Divorced!) comedy film. Produced with support from Ministry of Culture of Russia. Konstantin Ernst listed as producer alongside Sergey Selyanov and Natalia Drozd-Makan.
- Министерство культуры Российской Федерации (Ministry of Culture of Russia)coreGovernment ministry providing production support for film projects including 'Давай разведемся!' as part of Russian cinema development initiatives.
- Студия Русский проект (Russian Project Studio)coreFilm production studio co-producing 'Таинственная страсть' (Mysterious Passion) adaptation - a 13-episode adaptation of Vasily Aksyonov's novel about the Sixtiers movement, produced by Konstantin Ernst and Denis Evstigneev.
- Красный квадрат (Red Square)coreProduction company co-producing 'Таинственная страсть' television adaptation. Partnered with 'Студия Русский проект' on this multi-episode film project.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
First Channel competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- NTV: Major Russian commercial broadcaster with national distribution and a comparable mix of news, drama series, and entertainment programming. Closest direct peer in commercial-scale broadcasting and ad-driven revenue.
- TNT: Russian entertainment-focused broadcaster known for reality TV, comedy series, and youth-targeted content, owned by Gazprom-Media. Direct peer in original entertainment production and ad sales scale, with its own streaming platform TNT-Premier.
- TV Center (ТВЦ): Moscow-focused state-affiliated broadcaster with broader Russian distribution. Comparable in mandate to deliver news and public-affairs programming and in operating as a state-linked media entity.
- Russia-1 (Россия-1): Russia's other flagship national general-entertainment broadcast network, operated by VGTRK. Direct competitor with similar national reach, ad-supported model, and broad entertainment/news programming targeting Russian-speaking audiences.
- Channel Five (Пятый канал): Russian national broadcaster with national terrestrial reach and a comparable general-interest programming mix. Direct competitor in news, drama, and entertainment slots.
- REN TV: Russian national broadcaster with a mix of news, documentaries, and entertainment programming. Direct competitor for advertising budgets and audience share across the Russian Federation.
- STS (СТС): Russian general-entertainment broadcaster with significant original scripted and entertainment programming. Comparable in business model (advertising-led) and audience demographics, with growing digital/OTT extensions.
Broad incumbents
- ITV: UK's largest commercial public-service broadcaster, funded primarily by advertising with growing subscription streaming (ITVX). Comparable in combining linear broadcast advertising with a subscription-based on-demand platform.
- BBC: UK public service broadcaster with a mixed funding model (license fee plus commercial), universal national reach, and extensive original content production. Comparable structurally as a flagship national broadcaster with public-service obligations and a substantial digital/streaming extension (iPlayer).
- ZDF: Germany's major public broadcaster with national terrestrial reach and a broad mix of news, entertainment, and original drama. Comparable in being a flagship national general-entertainment network with mandated distribution and significant original production.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
First Channel social profiles
Digital presenceFirst Channel financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
First Channel leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
First Channel subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
First Channel funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
First Channel M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about First Channel
What does First Channel do?
First Channel operates a free-to-air national Russian television channel providing 24/7 news, entertainment, sports, and original programming via digital terrestrial multiplexes across all Russian territories. The broadcaster extends its offering through the subscription-based online cinema kino.1tv.ru, which streams original series and films on an ad-free basis, complemented by mobile applications, Hbb-TV interactive services, and international broadcasting via 1tv.com.
Is First Channel a public or private company?
First Channel is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was First Channel founded?
First Channel was founded in 1996. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is First Channel based?
First Channel is headquartered in Moscow, Russia, in the Europe region.
How does First Channel make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Advertising Revenue is the primary driver. The others are subscription Revenue and broadcasting Rights.
Who are First Channel's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are NTV, TNT, TV Center (ТВЦ), Russia-1 (Россия-1), Channel Five (Пятый канал), REN TV and STS (СТС). Broad incumbents are ITV, BBC and ZDF.
Does First Channel have an API?
No public API is recorded for First Channel.
What industry is First Channel in?
First Channel's product category is Broadcast Television Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABAAAA, National General-Entertainment Broadcast Networks. Its NAICS code is 51612 and its SIC code is 4833.