Starlight Media

What Starlight Media does

Starlight Media (ТОВ «Старлайт Медіа» / STARLIGHT MEDIA LLC) is the largest Ukrainian media holding company and one of the largest in Eastern Europe, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Kyiv. It operates as a vertically integrated producer and distributor of audio-visual content, unifying 10 proprietary TV channels (STB, ICTV, ICTV2, New Channel, M1, M2, OCE TV, Tviy Serial, Super+, and Tvoye Kino) under one corporate structure alongside dedicated operating divisions. The group's reach extends to 98% of the Ukrainian population with 12 million daily viewers and a 33% share of the Ukrainian advertising market, anchored by the ICTV news franchise and the entertainment portfolio around STB, New Channel, and the OCE TV women's-targeted channel. The company also operates specialty music channels M1 (first Ukrainian karaoke-mode broadcaster) and M2 (first to deploy Unreal Engine virtual reality broadcasting in Ukraine).

The business is structured around seven core operating divisions: Starlight Broadcasting (channel portfolio management), Starlight Production (seven studios producing 1,500+ hours annually and 50+ projects), Starlight News (news and political programming including The Facts and Freedom of Speech), Starlight PayTV & Digital (450+ Pay TV provider relationships, YouTube monetization with 8 gold buttons, programmatic advertising across 20 million Ukrainian internet users), Starlight Rental (40,000+ equipment items including cameras, lighting, sound, and HD OB vans), Starlight Scenery (420+ stage scenery projects, 30,000+ rental props through the Props House subsidiary), and Starlight Production Services (casting, post-production). International content licensing of original formats (notably Love in Chains) has reached Spain, Poland, Japan, and 15+ countries, while scenery production has served Cirque du Soleil and projects in Germany, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Austria, USA, France, Canada, and Switzerland.

Revenue is generated through seven streams: traditional TV advertising sales, digital/programmatic advertising via the Trading Desk platform, Pay TV and subscription distribution, B2B equipment rental (Starlight Rental), B2B scenery and props production (Starlight Scenery), international content licensing and format sales, and YouTube content monetization. GTM is sales-led targeting enterprise advertisers and media buyers — 80% of Ukraine's TOP 100 advertisers partner with the group — combined with direct-to-consumer reach through proprietary channels and OTT platforms (Megogo, Sweet TV, Kyivstar TV). The company is the first Ukrainian media group aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals and holds partnerships with UN Women, UN Global Compact, UN Population Fund, and WHO, which function as ESG credentials supporting advertiser relationships. The company is privately held with no disclosed parent company, no disclosed VC funding rounds, and no public revenue figures despite publishing annual reports from 2021-2025.

Name

Starlight Media

Legal name

ТОВ «Старлайт Медіа» (STARLIGHT MEDIA LLC)

Website

https://starlight.media

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Starlight Media is Ukraine's largest vertically integrated media holding, operating 10 TV channels, seven production divisions, and B2B equipment and scenery services that reach 98% of the Ukrainian population and 12 million daily viewers while holding 33% of the country's advertising market.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Television Broadcasting and Media Production

NAICS

Television Broadcasting Stations (51612), Motion Picture and Video Production (51211), Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations (5161)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

National General-Entertainment Broadcast Networks (MPABAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Live TV Streaming (vMVPD/IPTV OTT) (MPACAAAD), Music & Concert Video Streaming Platforms (MPACAAAI)

Keywords

• Television broadcasting services
• Video content production
• Media advertising sales
• Pay tv distribution
• Production equipment rental

Headquarters

HQ city

Kyiv

HQ country

Ukraine

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Television Advertising: Traditional TV advertising sales across the group's portfolio of channels including STB, ICTV, New Channel, M1, M2, OCE, and others. The group holds 33% of Ukraine's advertising market.
2. Digital Advertising: Online advertising inventory sales through Starlight Pay TV & Digital division. The company is Ukraine's largest seller of legal video advertising inventory, providing access to twenty million Ukrainian Internet users through programmatic technologies and Trading Desk platform.
3. Pay TV & Subscription: Pay TV channel distribution and subscription revenue through cooperation with 450 providers in Ukraine. Distribution includes channels like Setanta Sports and Setanta Sports+.
4. Equipment Rental (Starlight Rental): Rental services for movie and TV production including cameras, lighting, sound equipment, HD OB vans, and stage equipment. Serves group channels and external customers including nationwide TV channels, media groups, production studios, and cybersports associations.
5. Scenery & Props Production (Starlight Scenery): Development and production of scenery and props for TV shows, movies, concerts, festivals, theatres and cybersports events. Services include rental through Props House (Dom Rekvizita) with over 30,000 small and medium-sized props.
6. Content Licensing & Format Sales: Sale and licensing of original formats and content internationally, including successful series like 'Love in Chains' sold to Spain, Poland, Japan, and other markets.
7. YouTube Content Monetization: Certified YouTube specialist and largest television partner for monetization of professional YouTube video content in Ukraine. As of 2020, holds eight golden and more than twenty-five silver YouTube buttons.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Starlight Media is Ukraine's largest media group, operating a portfolio of 10 proprietary TV channels (STB, ICTV, ICTV2, New Channel, M1, M2, OCE TV, Tviy Serial, Super+, Tvoye Kino) and producing thousands of hours of original video content annually. Beyond content production and broadcasting, the group sells TV and digital advertising, distributes Pay TV channels through 450+ providers, and operates B2B production support services including equipment rental (40,000+ pieces) and scenery/props production (420+ stage projects).

Product overview

Starlight Media is Ukraine's largest media group and major video content producer/distributor in Eastern Europe. The portfolio includes seven broadcast TV channels (STB, ICTV, ICTV2, New Channel, M1, M2, OCE TV), VOD/streaming offerings (Tvoye Kino channels, Super+ entertainment channel, Tviy Serial series channel), production capabilities (Starlight Production with seven studios producing 1,500+ hours annually), technical infrastructure services (Starlight Rental with 40,000+ equipment units, Starlight Scenery with 420+ stage projects), and digital distribution (Starlight Pay TV & Digital operating teleportal.ua and YouTube monetization). Reaching 12 million daily viewers with 33% advertising market share.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Starlight Broadcasting: TV programming, content acquisition and distribution division
• Starlight News
• Starlight Production
• Starlight PayTV & Digital
• Starlight Scenery
• Starlight Rental
• Starlight Production Services
• Storylab
• Props House (Дім реквізиту)
• Teleportal
• Starlight Hope Charity Fund

Products and services

• STB
• ICTV
• New Channel
• M1
• M2
• OCE TV
• ICTV2
• Tviy Serial
• Super+
• Tvoye Kino
• Starlight Production
• Starlight Rental
• Starlight Scenery
• Starlight Pay TV & Digital
• Starlight News
• Starlight Production Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 12 million viewers daily across group's content
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UN Coordinator in UkrainecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular cooperation for positive change in Ukrainian society. Partnership supports UN Sustainable Development Goals integration in company's operations.
• UN WomencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for gender equality initiatives. Starlight Media signed Women's Empowerment Principles developed by UN Women and UN Global Compact.
• UN Population FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on gender equality and domestic violence prevention. Starlight Media is signatory to UN Population Fund Declaration on Gender Equality and Combating Domestic Violence.
• UN Global Compact in UkrainecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for sustainability development. Olena Froliak, anchor of ICTV's Facts, signed Memorandum of Cooperation and became organization's first environmental ambassador.
• WHO (World Health Organization)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation for health and well-being initiatives supporting sustainable development goals.
• National Democratic InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for positive change in Ukrainian society and democratic development initiatives.
• Center for CSR DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for corporate social responsibility development in Ukraine.
• Tochka Oporu NGOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for positive change in Ukrainian society through civil society engagement.
• EKOLOHICHNI INVESTYTSII LLCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation supporting reform of toxic waste management in Ukraine. Topics of reducing plastic use, sorting waste covered in company's programs.
• Clear Sky Anti-Piracy InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPay TV & Digital division joined Clear Sky anti-piracy initiative to develop legal audiovisual product for Ukrainian Internet community.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• ProSiebenSat.1 Media: German commercial broadcaster operating ProSieben, SAT.1, kabel eins, sixx plus digital entertainment and production. Closely aligned as a national multi-channel broadcaster monetizing through advertising and content sales.
• TF1 Group: French private broadcaster running TF1, TMC, TFX and production arm Newen. Analogous business model — flagship national channel plus thematic channels and content production/export.
• RTL Group: Europe's largest broadcaster operating TV channels, streaming and production across multiple countries (RTL, M6, Fremantle). Comparable as a multi-channel, advertising-led broadcast and content production group, though at much larger scale and geographic breadth.
• Warner Bros. Discovery: Global media company operating TV networks (CNN, Discovery, TNT, HBO), studios, and streaming. Comparable as a multi-channel, content-producing, advertising-supported broadcaster with international content licensing.
• ITV plc: UK's largest commercial public-service broadcaster (ITV1, ITV2, ITV3) and major producer (ITV Studios). Comparable multi-channel, advertising + production model serving a national audience.

Direct peers

• Inter Media Group: Major Ukrainian media group running Inter, NTN, K1, Mega, Pixel and other national TV channels. Closely comparable in business model — broadcast TV, news, entertainment, and digital distribution in the Ukrainian market.
• 1+1 Media Group: Largest privately-held Ukrainian media group operating a comparable portfolio of national TV channels (1+1, 2+2, TET, PlusPlus, Bigudi, Unian TV) and production/content businesses. Direct competitor to Starlight in the Ukrainian broadcast and advertising market.
• Media Group Ukraine: Ukrainian media holding operating Ukraine, NLO TV, Indigo TV, DONBAS, 36.6 TV and others. Direct competitor for advertising budgets and audience share within Ukraine's broadcast TV market.

Others

• Banijay Group: World's largest independent content producer (Banijay, Endemol Shine). Comparable to Starlight's production/export side (format licensing, international content sales like 'Love in Chains') rather than the broadcast channel business.
• Fremantle: Global production company (formerly Pearson Television) producing entertainment, drama and formats for broadcasters worldwide. Comparable to Starlight's content production and format-licensing operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/StarLightMedia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/starlight-media-ua
• Instagraminstagram.com/starlight_media_ua

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries23 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Starlight Media