CTC (or STS, stands for Russian: Сеть Телевизионных Станций, Seť Televizionnyh Stancij, lit. ‘Network of television stations’ (NTS)) is a commercial television station based in Moscow, Russia. It belongs to the CTC Media company. The company is owned by National media group (Russia) and VTB Bank (Russia).[2]
History
In 1994, Channel Six Petersburg (owned by then-current CTC Media StoryFirst Communications) began expanded outside St. Petersburg. Some local stations began rebroadcast that station: AMTV (Moscow), Zenit (Oryol), TSM Channel 10 (Novosibirisk, have been rebroadcast since the launch in 1991 but disaffiliated in 1995).
In December 1996, AMTV went into financial crisis, most of founders had left. It later joins StoryFirst Communications (at that time owned some regional TV in Russia). AMTV later joins those stations, leading to creating STS. STS was launched on 1 December 1996.
In 2002, Alexander Rodnyansky became General Director of the CTC. During the period of his leadership the ratings of the channel showed a quick and significant increase. 2006 - the best year in the history of STS. Then the average share of the channel's audience reached the highest level - 10.4% (audience "Russia, all viewers over four years").[3]
December 21, 2009 - start broadcasting international version of the channel - "CTC International".[4]
February 1, 2019 - CTC switched to a 16:9 broadcast format.[5] November 2019 - the HD version of the TV channel started broadcasting.[6]
Today STS broadcasts a mix between Russian productions and international programming of interest to its target audience, viewers aged 10–45,[7] especially younger audiences.
Approximately 100 million people are within STS's signal reach. In 2019, STS achieved an average audience share in its target demographic of 9.45%. It ranks as the sixth most watched nationwide broadcaster in Russia overall.[8] STS network reaches approximately 96% of urban households.[9]
Russian series
STS airs both licensed series and sitcom. Among original Russian series and sitcoms: Poor Nastya ("Бедная Настя"), Cadets ("Кадетство"), Daddy's Daughters ("Папины дочки"), Ranetki ("Ранетки", dramedy about the same musical group - Ranetki Girls), Kitchen ("Кухня"), Eighties ("Восьмидесятые"), The Junior Team ("Молодёжка"), Two Fathers, Two Sons ("Два отца и два сына"), Londongrad ("Лондонград"), Ivanov-Ivanov ("Ивановы-Ивановы"), 90's. Fun and loud ("90-е. Весело и громко").
In the 2010s, the number of licensed series decreased. The management of the channel relies on original Russian projects.[10]
