Azerbaijan, Baku, 30 July/ Trend / The leading private media holding of Russia STS Media is interested in entering the Azerbaijani market, Aleksandr Rodnyanski, President of holding said, foreign media reported.
According to Rodnyanski, the company plans to enter the markets of former Soviet Union including Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldova and Georgia.
"There are real chances in these countries [to enter the market]," he said.
STS Media is a large independent media holding of Russia. It owns and runs STS TV channel with over 350 partner stations including 21 stations and Domashniy TV channel with over 230 partner stations including13 stations and DTV TV channel with 3 station and several partner stations. STS Media owns two television broadcasting companies - Kostafilm and Sokho Media. It also runs 31Channel in Kazakhstan and a TV channel in Uzbekistan.
In the first half year, the total proceeds of STS Media increased by 43.1% and totaled to $309.5mln as compared to $216.3mln in the first half of 2007.
The company expects proceeds worth $650mln to $700mln as of 31 December 2008 and the profitability on OIBDA (operating income before depreciation and amortization) is also expected to increase from 42% to 46%. These target figures also include the expected proceeds and indicator of OIBDA by its companies in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and DTV group of companies. All the above-mentioned companies were purchased in early 2008.