The Walt Disney Company and CTC Media Conclude Entertainment Licensing Agreement in Russia

The Walt Disney Company and CTC Media Conclude Entertainment Licensing Agreement in Russia

MOSCOW, April 7, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CTC Media, Inc. (NASDAQ:CTCM) , Russia's leading independent media company, has concluded a major, multi-year licensing agreement with The Walt Disney Company's international TV licensing arm, Disney-ABC International Television. This agreement covers the licensing of features, live action series, animated series and made-for-TV movies for the CTC television network. The CTC Network -- the flagship of CTC Media -- is the fourth-most watched broadcaster in Russia with an average audience share of 11.3% in its target demographic (everyone aged 6-54) in 2007.

With this agreement, CTC's viewers across Russia will be able to enjoy a wide range of features from The Walt Disney Studios including such blockbusters as Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, National Treasure: Book Of Secrets, Enchanted, critically acclaimed motion pictures such as the Academy Award winning There Will Be Blood and Disney/Pixar animated movies such as Cars and The Incredibles.

The story of successful cooperation between CTC Media and The Walt Disney Company began with a 3-year licensing contract in 2004. Disney movies such as Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, classic Disney animation and top-rated ABC Studios TV series such as Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives have all been successful on the channel. World famous animation from major studios makes up an important part of CTC's daily programming, with the channel broadcasting a timeslot-winning kid animated series block every weekday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Under this agreement, CTC will broadcast new Disney content within the wider timeslot, such as Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, Ducktales, Chip 'N' Dale Rescue Rangers and Kim Possible. The agreement also includes hit live action Disney Channel Original Series such as Hannah Montana and The Suite Life of Zach & Cody.

Alexander Rodnyansky, Chief Executive Officer of CTC Media, commented, "We are delighted to continue our cooperation with The Walt Disney Company CIS. CTC has always provided its audience with top-quality and family friendly entertainment and we are committed to choose only the best companies as our partners. This agreement with The Walt Disney Company CIS will ensure that CTC viewers will continue to enjoy the best in filmed entertainment and animation."

"This is a significant step in the growth of Disney business in Russia, which will contribute to the further strengthening of the Disney brand," said Marina Jigalova-Ozkan, Managing Director for The Walt Disney Company CIS. "We're happy to closely work with CTC and continue to develop our partnership."

About CTC Media, Inc.

CTC Media is a leading independent media company in Russia. It owns and operates the CTC television network, whose signal is carried by more than 350 affiliate stations, including 19 owned-and-operated stations; and the Domashny television network, whose signal is carried by over 230 affiliate stations, including 13 owned-and-operated stations. CTC recently announced the acquisition of DTV, its third Russian television network, which is expected to close in the second quarter of 2008. The combined audience share for the CTC, Domashny and DTV networks in 2007 was 12.9%. CTC Media owns two TV content production companies: COSTAFILM and SOHO MEDIA, and operates Channel 31 in Kazakhstan and a TV company in Uzbekistan. The Company's common stock is traded on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol: "CTCM". For more information on CTC Media, please visit: www.ctcmedia.ru.

The Walt Disney Company CIS

The Walt Disney Company CIS -- the subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company -- was founded in April 2006. General Manager of The Walt Disney Company CIS is Marina Jigalova-Ozkan.

In Russia and CIS the company develops all main lines of business of the global company, which include:

   1. Marketing and distribution of films;   2. Distribution of TV content;   3. Home Entertainment (production of DVD);   4. Licensing of Disney consumer products -- clothes, toys, goods for      children, stationery, food, cosmetics;   5. Production and distribution of games for PC and consoles;   6. Production and distribution of mobile and Internet content;   7. Licensing of publishing -- books and magazines for children.     Disney-ABC International Television  

Disney-ABC International Television is the international television distribution division of The Walt Disney Company, licensing over 30,000 hours of programming to over 1300 broadcasters across 240 territories worldwide. Disney-ABC International Television distributes a portfolio of motion pictures from Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures and Miramax Films, network TV series, TV movies and miniseries, Disney-branded kids programming, ABC Daytime and ABC News programming as well as the Annual Academy Awards(R). The company also services the distribution of the Jetix Europe portfolio internationally. Disney-ABC International Television has been expanding its business portfolio to distribute U.S.-produced reality programs and exploits reality and scripted formats for local production; including local editions of 'Extreme Makeover' in the UK, India, Belgium, Scandinavia, Hungary and Colombia; 'The Amazing Race' in Central Europe, Asia, and Brazil; local versions of 'Home Improvement' and 'Hope & Faith' in Russia and Turkey respectively; and local versions of Desperate Housewives in Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil and US Hispanic Market.

   Contacts:    CTC Media, Inc.   Ivan Philippov (media)   Katya Ostrova (investors)   +7 495 785 63 33    Walt Disney Company CIS   Sarah Hird   +44 (0) 7866 470072    Brainerd Communicators, Inc.   Jenna Focarino (media)   Michael Smargiassi (investors)   +1 212 986 6667  

Source: CTC Media, Inc.

CONTACT: Ivan Philippov, media, or Katya Ostrova, investors, both of CTC
Media, Inc., +7-495-785-63-33; or Sarah Hird, Walt Disney Company CIS,
+44-7866-470072; or Jenna Focarino, media, or Michael Smargiassi, investors,
both of Brainerd Communicators, Inc., +1-212-986-6667

Web site: http://www.ctcmedia.ru/

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Profile: International Entertainment