MUMBAI: Entertainment content market MIPCOM will shine the spotlight on the Russian television, digital and film industries with a series of Focus on Russia events programmed for MIPCOM 2011.

This will be the first time that the Russian entertainment industry has been selected to take centre stage at MIPCOM.

In preparing for this Focus on Russia programme, MIPCOM organizer, Reed MIDEM, has chosen as its lead partners, major Russian broadcaster Channel One Russia and Red Square, Russia’s largest television media studio.  Saint Petersburg-based Riki group, with its fun-loving Kikoriki animated characters, will also be playing a significant role in the Focus on Russia events.

Commenting on the Focus on Russia, Red Square chief creative officer Ilya Krivitsky says, "We’ve been attending the MIP markets for many years, but now the time is perfect to showcase the Russian television and media industry to the world. Russia has become an integral part of the global television industry, producing world class programming, adapting international formats for the domestic Russian audience and offering original programming for the international market."

Red Square CEO Andrey Kurpatov adds, "We are very grateful to Reed MIDEM for their choice. Red Square has exceptional know-how and killer applications to showcase in Cannes in October. We’ll do our best to surpass and surprise industry expectations."

"The Russian market currently hosts over 330 television channels which have to be fed by domestic and international programming. Cable revenues are now in excess of €723 million, satellite broadcasting is growing fast, as is the transition to digital broadcasting which is on schedule to reach 95% of the population by 2015. President Dmitry Medvedev has set a goal for all Russian citizens to have access to at least 26 digital television channels by 2015. The Focus on Russia will provide a unique opportunity for the international television industry at MIPCOM to discover the best of Russian content and also increase its understanding of this important market for international entertainment programmes and co-productions," notes Reed MIDEM television division director Laurine Garaude.