CTC Media to Launch International Broadcasting in North America

CTC Media to Launch International Broadcasting in North America

MOSCOW, December 21/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CTC Media, Inc. ("CTC Media" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: CTCM), Russia's leading independent media company, today announced the launch of international broadcasting under the CTC brand in North America through the DISH Network Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH), one of the country's largest pay-TV providers with 13.6 million subscribers.

The international version of CTC will be a 24-hour family entertainment channel with a programming grid consisting of CTC (80%), Domashny and DTV content. Viewers will have the opportunity to watch formats that have proven popular with Russian audiences, such as 'Margosha', 'Daddy's Girls', 'Ranetki', 'Cadets', 'I Want to Believe!', 'Say What's Wrong', and many more. CTC Media's programming is well known for its high quality, topicality and family focus.

Anton Kudryashov, Chief Executive Officer of CTC Media, commented: "The international launch is an important and long-awaited step for us. We have chosen the North American market as the first target for our international expansion due to its significant potential. Moreover, we are confident that there are no comparable offerings among the Russian-language broadcasters in the U.S. In the future, we are also planning to launch an international version of CTC on other broadcasting platforms in the U.S. as well as in Europe, where Russian content will be popular with viewers."

"DISH Network is thrilled to become the exclusive satellite platform provider of CTC programming in the U.S.," said Dave Shull, Senior Vice President of Programming for DISH Network Corporation. "Adding a premium family entertainment channel of such high quality to our already fantastic line-up of Russian programming allows DISH Network to offer our subscribers the most diverse Russian programming options in the country."

Irina Shalinets, Director of the International Broadcasting Department at CTC Media, added: "We are providing viewers with a combination of the highest-rated content of three Russian networks - CTC, Domashny and DTV - which we believe will be very appealing. We hope that, by the winter holidays, all Russian-speaking audiences in the U.S. will be tuning in to the new world of family entertainment made possible by CTC."

CTC Media content will be distributed by Ethnic Channels Group, Inc. (USA). CTC Media will also provide Ethnic Channels Group with non-exclusive rights for its content distribution via cable, satellite, video-on-demand (VOD), and a number of other broadcasting systems.

About CTC Media, Inc.

CTC Media is a leading independent media company in Russia, with operations throughout Russia and elsewhere in the CIS. It operates three free-to-air television networks in Russia - CTC, Domashny and DTV, Channel 31 in Kazakhstan and TV companies in Uzbekistan and Moldova. CTC Media also owns two TV content production companies, Costafilm and Soho Media. 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 http://www.ctcmedia.ru.

Certain statements in this press release that are not based on historical information are "forward-looking statements". Such forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding the potential success of CTC International. These statements reflect the Company's current expectations concerning future results and events. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of CTC Media to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

The potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual future results to differ from those expressed by forward-looking statements include, among others, the risks that CTC's programming may not be accepted by audiences in North America, that we may not be able to monetize our programming in this market, or that we may not successfully manage our relationships with our local distribution partners, as well as the other risks described in the "Risk Factors" section of CTC Media's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the third quarter of 2009, filed with the SEC on November 5, 2009.

Other unknown or unpredictable factors could have material adverse effects on CTC Media's future results, performance or achievements. In light of these risks, uncertainties, assumptions and factors, the forward-looking events discussed herein may not occur. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. CTC Media does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements because of new information, future events or otherwise.

          For further information, please contact:      CTC Media, Inc.     Media Relations     Ekaterina Osadchaya or     Angelika Larionova     Tel: +7-495-785-6333     pr@ctcmedia.ru      Investor Relations     Ekaterina Ostrova     Tel: +7-495-783-3650     ir@ctcmedia.ru  

Source: CTC Media, Inc

For further information, please contact: CTC Media, Inc., Media Relations, Ekaterina Osadchaya or Angelika Larionova, Tel: +7-495-785-6333, pr@ctcmedia.ru. Investor Relations, Ekaterina Ostrova, Tel: +7-495-783-3650, ir@ctcmedia.ru

---

Profile: International Entertainment