At Russian Creative Week, National Media Group and SCP Platform presented the findings of the study Cinema as a Tool for Social Change, a project examining the social impact of Russian films and series.


	 Russians expect meaning from cinema


	 The study showed that Russian cinema has become an everyday practice for most viewers. 82% of respondents watch Russian films and series regularly, while 54% primarily watch Russian content.


	 At the same time, 88% of viewers consistently rate the quality of Russian cinema highly and recognize its role in shaping the cultural code: 75% agree that cinema strengthens their connection to Russian culture, 73% believe it helps them understand the country’s history, and 68% say it makes them feel proud.


	 Audience expectations are also changing. Today, viewers increasingly look to cinema not only for entertainment but also as an opportunity to reflect on important social issues. The statements “cinema should address important issues” and “cinema should broaden horizons” received the highest scores, 8.8 out of 10 each. For viewers over 25, a film’s social significance becomes more important than its entertainment function.


	 The paradox of mass appeal and depth


	 One notable finding of the study is the relationship between a film’s mass reach and its social impact. The data suggest that Russian viewers currently tend toward two dominant models of perception. On one side are entertainment projects with broad reach of up to 50% but moderate social impact, with an impact index of around 30. On the other are more serious and profound works that resonate strongly with viewers, with an impact index of 61, but currently reach a narrower audience of around 7%.


	 A significant open space remains between these poles: films that are both accessible in form and meaningful in impact are still relatively rare in mass perception. The study also found almost no correlation between the average rating of a film or series on online platforms and its social impact. A high website rating does not always mean strong social impact, while quieter, more intimate works can leave a deep impression on those who see them.


	 Experts also note that genre packaging — comedy, melodrama, family film — lowers the barrier to complex topics and allows a social message to reach audiences.


	 Top 10 films/series with social impact according to experts


	 The top 10 films and series with social impact in 2026 include:


	 · Get Back on Your Feet


	 · Landyshi 2


	 · August


	 · Beauty


	 · Blood Type


	 · Yura Was Here


	 · Say Hi to Your Husband


	 · You Drive Me Crazy


	 · To Grandpa’s Village


	 · Legends of Our Ancestors


	 These works share one principle: they make visible those who are usually overlooked and tell honest stories grounded in real experience.


	 Demand for “invisible” heroes


	 The study identified an interesting pattern: the selected films share a common principle — they bring to the screen people and situations that most often remain outside the frame.


	 Demand for a broader definition of “normal” in cinema is particularly revealing: most viewers respond neutrally or positively to characters with physical differences, mental disorders, and chronic illnesses, regardless of their role in the plot. For socially oriented cinema, this points directly to an opportunity: a film in which a character’s condition is not used as a narrative crutch has every chance of being accepted by audiences.


	 However, audiences quickly tire of inauthenticity. Experts identify several systemic barriers that undermine social impact: an artificial hero constructed to meet an institutional brief; mechanical hyper-inclusion, where a character with a particular condition exists not as a person but as an illustration of an idea; and a lecturing tone, where ready-made answers and direct explanations trigger resistance from viewers.


	 How impact works


	 The study confirmed that cinema influences values and behavior — 85% of viewers believe it does — but the effect is delayed and cumulative. Watching together is an important factor: films viewed with family or friends produce a 15% higher behavioral effect. It is in the conversation after viewing, and in the collision of interpretations, that meaning truly begins to work.


	 Svetlana Balanova, CEO of National Media Group:


	 “Cinema has a unique ability not only to reflect social processes but also to become part of them. It helps us see the world through another person’s eyes, creates empathy, and becomes a starting point for important conversations. The new study is a guide for the entire industry that will help us better understand audience expectations and create projects that can be popular, relevant, and socially meaningful at the same time.”


	 The study was conducted in May 2026. The survey included 2,000 respondents aged 18 and over. In addition, 15 expert interviews and two expert sessions were conducted with specialists in film production and the nonprofit sector.


	 The full study is available at: <a href="https://nmg.ru/upload/documents/Kino-kak-instrument-sotsialnykh-izmeneniy.pdf">https://nmg.ru/upload/documents/Kino-kak-instrument-sotsialnykh-izmeneniy.pdf</a>


	 ***


	 Background information


	 National Media Group is Russia’s largest private media holding. NMG manages a diversified portfolio of assets in the production, distribution, and monetization of high-quality informational and entertainment content across all types of media.


	 Key assets include the leaders of the Russian media market: broadcast TV channels REN TV, Channel Five, STS, Domashny, Che, STS Love, and STS Kids; the multimedia information center Izvestia MIC (which includes the IZ.RU portal, the Izvestia newspaper, the Izvestia TV channel, and the news services of REN TV and Channel Five); newspapers such as Sport-Express and Delovoy Peterburg, NMG Kinoprokat, сompanies engaged in the production of popular films, shows and series, as well as owning technological and marketing assets. NMG also holds an equity stake in Channel One.


	 In 2019, NMG launched the online service more.tv, and in June 2023 completed the merger of video services more.tv and Wink as part of a joint venture with PJSC Rostelecom. In November 2022, the holding announced the creation of the film distribution company NMG Kinoprokat. In January 2024, NMG launched NMG DOC – a single platform for the production and distribution of non-fiction works. In April 2024, NMG and RDIF agreed to invest in the creation of a joint Сommercial fund for the development of film and animation.


	 According to Mediascope, by the end of 2025 NMG was the leader in terrestrial TV audience share across the entire population of Russia, with a 23,77% share.


	 &nbsp;

85% of Russians Recognize Cinema’s Influence on Values: NMG Presents Map of Films with Social Impact

National Media Group is bringing vertical microdramas to television for the first time in Russia. Starting July 3, Che will air short vertical series — a genre that previously existed exclusively in the digital environment.


	 The schedule will feature an experimental slot titled Love Vertically, with four mini-series previously available only on the Stories online platform: Pregnant by an Oligarch, Boss for One Night, Twins. Fight for the Heir, and Goal Straight to the Heart. Viewers can expect fast-paced plots and maximum emotion in every minute: love, intrigue, family secrets, battles over inheritance, and unexpected twists — everything that has made microdramas popular on mobile platforms.


	 Vertical video is one of the fastest-growing segments of media consumption worldwide. Che is integrating this trend into television, creating a new niche at the intersection of mobile and traditional viewing. On Stories, microdramas consistently attract broad audiences: viewers return for new episodes, while interest in the format continues to grow.


	 “Che has always been open to new formats, and bringing vertical microdramas to television is a deliberate experiment that logically continues our strategy. We see audience habits changing: people increasingly prefer short, dynamic content. Microdramas respond to this demand — they are paced to hold attention from the very first second. Now we are bringing this storytelling approach to the big screen and giving viewers a new experience,” said Elena Karpenko, General Producer of Stories and Director of Che.


	 What will be shown:


	 · Pregnant by an Oligarch — Russia’s first original microdrama. After being betrayed by her fiancé, Masha discovers that she is unexpectedly pregnant by an oligarch.


	 · Boss for One Night — the story of Nastya, whose life changes after an unexpected night with her boss. She finds herself at the center of a family conflict, with her own sister becoming her main rival.


	 · Goal Straight to the Heart — love and rivalry surrounding a popular football player. Three women compete for the sports star’s attention.


	 · Twins. Fight for the Heir — a modern Cinderella story about a young woman trying to free herself from tyrannical guardians.


	 “Microdramas are content people watch on the go — while commuting, standing in line, or taking a break. But a good story deserves a big screen, regardless of the format it was originally created for,” Elena Karpenko added.


	 Timing:


	 The Love Vertically slot premieres on July 3 at midnight and will air Fridays on Che.


	 Background information:


	 Stories is a Russian platform operated by National Media Group (NMG) for watching Russian and international vertical series on smartphones.


	 Russia’s first original microdrama, Pregnant by an Oligarch, was released by NMG in 2025. It drew ten times more viewers than the leading international projects available on Stories.


	 Che is a relaunched TV channel that went on air in 2018 and has produced successful original projects for viewers aged 25–49 since its first days.


	 Premiere slot video: <a href="https://disk.360.yandex.ru/i/g5rw_iqoKWn3dw">https://disk.360.yandex.ru/i/g5rw_iqoKWn3dw</a>


	 ***


	 Background information


	 National Media Group is Russia’s largest private media holding. NMG manages a diversified portfolio of assets in the production, distribution, and monetization of high-quality informational and entertainment content across all types of media.


	 Key assets include the leaders of the Russian media market: broadcast TV channels REN TV, Channel Five, STS, Domashny, Che, STS Love, and STS Kids; the multimedia information center Izvestia MIC (which includes the IZ.RU portal, the Izvestia newspaper, the Izvestia TV channel, and the news services of REN TV and Channel Five); newspapers such as Sport-Express and Delovoy Peterburg, NMG Kinoprokat, сompanies engaged in the production of popular films, shows and series, as well as owning technological and marketing assets. NMG also holds an equity stake in Channel One.


	 In 2019, NMG launched the online service more.tv, and in June 2023 completed the merger of video services more.tv and Wink as part of a joint venture with PJSC Rostelecom. In November 2022, the holding announced the creation of the film distribution company NMG Kinoprokat. In January 2024, NMG launched NMG DOC – a single platform for the production and distribution of non-fiction works. In April 2024, NMG and RDIF agreed to invest in the creation of a joint Сommercial fund for the development of film and animation.


	 According to Mediascope, by the end of 2025 NMG was the leader in terrestrial TV audience share across the entire population of Russia, with a 23,77% share.

National Media Group Launches Experiment: Microdramas to Air on Russian Television for the First Time

Moscow, June 25, 2026 — On June 24, Cinema Park Mosfilm hosted the first overseas theatrical screening of The Blue Planet Outside the Window, a documentary produced by China Media Group (CMG). The screening was organized by National Media Group under its partnership agreement with CMG.


	 The film became China Media Group’s first feature-length theatrical project. It premiered nationwide in China on September 5, 2025 and grossed more than 40 million yuan at the box office.


	 The documentary is based on unique footage shot by Shenzhou-13 crew members Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping, and Ye Guangfu. The astronauts used Chinese 8K ultra-high-definition cameras while working aboard China’s space station. This allows audiences to see spectacular views of space, details of the Chinese orbital station, and the astronauts’ everyday life with unprecedented clarity.


	 The film’s general producer is Shen Haixiong, President of China Media Group (CMG) and Deputy Head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee. The film was directed by Zhu Zhirang.


	 Before the screening, guests were addressed by Svetlana Balanova, CEO of National Media Group; Zhang Hanhui, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Russian Federation; Alexander Smirnov, Head of the Russian Presidential Directorate for Public Relations and Communications; and Wang Bin, Director of China Media Group’s Eurasia Bureau.


	 The premiere was also attended by Chinese Minister-Counsellor Feng Litao; the Consuls General of China in Yekaterinburg, Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, Irkutsk, and Kazan; Russian Deputy Minister of Culture Alexey Malyshev; Deputy Directors of the Information and Press Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry Andrey Nastasyin and Alexey Fadeev; and representatives of Russian and Chinese media.


	 Svetlana Balanova, CEO of National Media Group:


	 “National Media Group is honored to be a partner of the first overseas theatrical screening of The Blue Planet Outside the Window, produced by China Media Group. What makes the film unique is that it was shot in space — and, for the first time in cinema history, not by filmmakers but by the astronauts themselves. The film allows us to see the fragile Earth without borders and appreciate its beauty from a vast distance.


	 It is especially symbolic that the premiere took place in 2026, the 30th anniversary of the Joint Russian-Chinese Declaration on the Development of Relations of Equal and Trusting Partnership Aimed at Strategic Interaction in the 21st Century, and the 25th anniversary of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation between Russia and China. I am confident that this screening will be another step toward strengthening cultural dialogue and will open new opportunities for cooperation between our countries in film and media.”


	 About the film


	 The Blue Planet Outside the Window (89 minutes) is China Media Group’s first feature-length film and the first Chinese space documentary filmed entirely in 8K aboard China’s orbital station. The film is based on footage shot by the Shenzhou-13 crew — Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping, and Ye Guangfu — during their six-month mission.


	 The film follows the astronauts’ life and work in orbit, revealing not only the scale of scientific achievement and space exploration but also the human dimension of the mission — thoughts of home, family, homeland, and responsibility to future generations. Unique views of Earth captured through the astronauts’ own eyes turn the film into a reflection on our shared planet and humanity’s place in the universe.


	 Trailer for The Blue Planet Outside the Window: <a href="https://disk.yandex.ru/i/bSqU30G1fewVtw">https://disk.yandex.ru/i/bSqU30G1fewVtw</a>


	 Photos from the premiere: <a href="https://disk.yandex.ru/d/6dsntSFTbs4uyQ">https://disk.yandex.ru/d/6dsntSFTbs4uyQ</a>


	 ***


	 Background information


	 National Media Group is Russia’s largest private media holding. NMG manages a diversified portfolio of assets in the production, distribution, and monetization of high-quality informational and entertainment content across all types of media.


	 Key assets include the leaders of the Russian media market: broadcast TV channels REN TV, Channel Five, STS, Domashny, Che, STS Love, and STS Kids; the multimedia information center Izvestia MIC (which includes the IZ.RU portal, the Izvestia newspaper, the Izvestia TV channel, and the news services of REN TV and Channel Five); newspapers such as Sport-Express and Delovoy Peterburg, NMG Kinoprokat, сompanies engaged in the production of popular films, shows and series, as well as owning technological and marketing assets. NMG also holds an equity stake in Channel One.


	 In 2019, NMG launched the online service more.tv, and in June 2023 completed the merger of video services more.tv and Wink as part of a joint venture with PJSC Rostelecom. In November 2022, the holding announced the creation of the film distribution company NMG Kinoprokat. In January 2024, NMG launched NMG DOC – a single platform for the production and distribution of non-fiction works. In April 2024, NMG and RDIF agreed to invest in the creation of a joint Сommercial fund for the development of film and animation.


	 According to Mediascope, by the end of 2025 NMG was the leader in terrestrial TV audience share across the entire population of Russia, with a 23,77% share.

First Overseas Theatrical Screening of Chinese Documentary The Blue Planet Outside the Window Held in Moscow

At the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, National Media Group and CSP Platform presented their second large-scale study of images of the future. While last year’s report examined public stereotypes, fears, and hopes, the new study, "Sketches of the Future 2", explores how competing visions of tomorrow are already changing behavior today, whether their creation can be managed, and who gains the upper hand in this competition of narratives.


	 The future as a mirror of the present


	 For Russians, the future is a way to make sense of the present. 35% of respondents say they think about the future primarily in order to act now: an image of what lies ahead provides direction, helps set priorities, and shapes the choices people make. At the same time, images of the future do not emerge on their own — they are shaped by governments, corporations, creative industries, and communities, and take root only when they draw on recognizable values and shared experience that resonate with identity.


	 Future Readiness Index


	 When imagining the future, people think in different time horizons. Some “switch on the low beams,” focusing on the near term and planning their own lives; others “switch on the high beams,” thinking about how society will function in the more distant future. Today, 59% of Russians live in “low-beam” mode and look no more than 20 years ahead. At the same time, 24% switch to “high beams” and think more than 30 years ahead, retaining the ability to pursue long-term goals rather than merely react to events. Within this group are “long-term optimists” — 16% of Russians who see more opportunities in the future and are already shaping their behavior around it.


	 The study identifies three factors that help create a positive vision of the future and turn it into reality.


	 Agency — the sense that your actions matter;


	 Trust — confidence in people, institutions, and the future itself;


	 Identity — a sense of “we” and a shared horizon.


	 These indicators form the Future Readiness Index, which measures the resources society has to move forward under uncertainty. In Russia, the index stands at 3.27 out of 5, above the midpoint. At the same time, 47% of Russians believe they can influence the future — almost one in two believe in their own ability to act.


	 An expanded “we,” the past, and uncertainty


	 81% of Russians see the past as the foundation of the country’s future, while half of respondents would like to rethink the past. The breadth of the “we” circle is an important resource: 43% feel they belong to a larger “we,” from family to country and humanity, and it is these people who look further ahead and are more optimistic.


	 The study calls the ability to live with uncertainty the key skill for preparing for the future. Among those who see uncertainty as a resource, anxiety about the future is almost half that of those who see it only as a threat (23% versus 40%).


	 Technology and creative industries as agents of the future


	 Technological change is accelerating the arrival of a future once familiar mainly from science fiction: robots, self-driving vehicles, and complex digital systems are becoming part of everyday life. 67% of respondents say technology and innovation have improved over the past 10–15 years.


	 Among projects already shaping Russia’s image of the future and acting as “agents of the future” by connecting the present with the distant horizon, experts in the study named the Sirius educational center, St. Petersburg’s digital twin, Kamaz autonomous trucks, Sber’s Green robot assistant, autonomous research laboratories, growing semiconductors in space (Russian Academy of Sciences/ISS), and surgical robotics.


	 Creative industries are becoming a key tool for working with this image. They cultivate agency, train the ability to live with uncertainty, help society discuss ethical dilemmas in advance, create solidarity and shared emotional experience, and develop language for new phenomena. Through films, series, games, and other formats, society “tries on” different scenarios, learns from them, and finds points of reference.


	 The hero of the future and the new generation’s perspective


	 A vision of the future takes root when it includes a person audiences can identify with. Russians rank the “Leader” first — someone who does not bend under pressure, prevails in struggle, and does not abandon their own; second is the “Adaptive” type, who navigates uncertainty and finds solutions where rules do not yet exist; third is the “Everyday Hero,” who calmly and consistently does their work without fanfare but with resilience; fourth is the “Unifier,” who reaches agreements, brings people together around a common cause, and reduces conflict; fifth is the “Guardian,” who protects family, traditions, and order and serves as a source of support; sixth is the “Inventor,” who creates something new, is willing to take risks, and makes the world better.


	 Experts identify two particularly important archetypes of the era: the “frontier person,” a pioneer, and the “hero of care,” who preserves humanity where systems can erase it.


	 The new generation demonstrates a mature and humanistic view of the world but lives without a major unifying project that extends its horizon beyond the next few years. 68% of teenagers see people around them who have the qualities needed for a worthy future for the country, but they do not always believe they themselves can become such heroes. Their image of the future is shaped to a significant degree by Hollywood films and international content; the Russian niche remains largely unfilled, despite strong demand for homegrown stories and heroes of the future.


	 Svetlana Balanova, CEO of National Media Group:


	 “Today, the image of the future is no longer an abstract topic for futurists — it is a practical tool that shapes people’s behavior and countries’ competitiveness. Our Sketches of the Future 2 study shows that the winner is not the one who predicts tomorrow most accurately, but the one whose vision of the future is more inspiring and responds to fundamental human needs — fairness, resilience, and respect for identity. We see our role as using creative industries, cinema, and content to help shape meanings and practices that make the future more understandable and accessible to everyone.”


	 Video teaser for the study: <a href="https://disk.yandex.ru/i/NlSa1A3qZWY5zA">https://disk.yandex.ru/i/NlSa1A3qZWY5zA</a>


	 The full study is available at: <a href="https://nmg.ru/upload/documents/eskizi-budushego-2.pdf">https://nmg.ru/upload/documents/eskizi-budushego-2.pdf</a>


	 The study was conducted in April–May 2026 and combined a nationwide survey of 1,600 adult respondents, a survey of 500 teenagers aged 14–17, expert interviews, and focus groups.


	 ***


	 Background information


	 National Media Group is Russia’s largest private media holding. NMG manages a diversified portfolio of assets in the production, distribution, and monetization of high-quality informational and entertainment content across all types of media.


	 Key assets include the leaders of the Russian media market: broadcast TV channels REN TV, Channel Five, STS, Domashny, Che, STS Love, and STS Kids; the multimedia information center Izvestia MIC (which includes the IZ.RU portal, the Izvestia newspaper, the Izvestia TV channel, and the news services of REN TV and Channel Five); newspapers such as Sport-Express and Delovoy Peterburg, NMG Kinoprokat, сompanies engaged in the production of popular films, shows and series, as well as owning technological and marketing assets. NMG also holds an equity stake in Channel One.


	 In 2019, NMG launched the online service more.tv, and in June 2023 completed the merger of video services more.tv and Wink as part of a joint venture with PJSC Rostelecom. In November 2022, the holding announced the creation of the film distribution company NMG Kinoprokat. In January 2024, NMG launched NMG DOC – a single platform for the production and distribution of non-fiction works. In April 2024, NMG and RDIF agreed to invest in the creation of a joint Сommercial fund for the development of film and animation.


	 According to Mediascope, by the end of 2025 NMG was the leader in terrestrial TV audience share across the entire population of Russia, with a 23,77% share.

35% of Russians Think About the Future in Order to Act in the Present: Findings of NMG and CSP Platform’s Second Future Study

National Media Group (NMG) and Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL), one of India’s largest media holdings, signed a cooperation agreement on content production and distribution at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.


	 The agreement provides for cooperation in content distribution and licensing, exchange of television and digital formats, and joint production of films, series, documentaries, and entertainment projects. The parties also intend to explore opportunities to promote NMG content in the Indian market using ZEEL’s expertise and distribution capabilities.


	 Svetlana Balanova, CEO of National Media Group:


	 “India is one of the world’s largest markets and a key international partner for NMG. We are developing systematic cooperation with this market. In 2025, NMG’s revenue from content sales to India increased almost eightfold compared with 2024. The first Russian reality show filmed in India aired on STS at the beginning of this year. In December 2025, we signed a number of agreements with major Indian media companies, including India’s largest public broadcaster Prasar Bharati, South Asia’s leading multimedia news agency Asian News International (ANI), and Indian media group TV9 Network (Associated Broadcasting Company Private Limited). We are actively building cooperation with Indian partners in information exchange, and today we are expanding this direction by beginning work with one of the largest players in India’s content market. I am confident that our partnership with ZEEL will open up new opportunities to promote Russian projects, exchange content, and launch joint productions.”


	 Vinod Johri, Head of Syndication Business at Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd.:


	 “Zee is committed to developing strategic international partnerships that strengthen our content ecosystem and create new growth opportunities. Cooperation with National Media Group offers significant potential for content exchange, market expansion, and co-creation of stories for audiences in India and Russia. By combining our strengths in content production and distribution, we aim to build a sustainable platform for bringing compelling and in-demand stories to viewers across different countries.”


	 ***


	 Background information


	 National Media Group is Russia’s largest private media holding. NMG manages a diversified portfolio of assets in the production, distribution, and monetization of high-quality informational and entertainment content across all types of media.


	 Key assets include the leaders of the Russian media market: broadcast TV channels REN TV, Channel Five, STS, Domashny, Che, STS Love, and STS Kids; the multimedia information center Izvestia MIC (which includes the IZ.RU portal, the Izvestia newspaper, the Izvestia TV channel, and the news services of REN TV and Channel Five); newspapers such as Sport-Express and Delovoy Peterburg, NMG Kinoprokat, сompanies engaged in the production of popular films, shows and series, as well as owning technological and marketing assets. NMG also holds an equity stake in Channel One.


	 In 2019, NMG launched the online service more.tv, and in June 2023 completed the merger of video services more.tv and Wink as part of a joint venture with PJSC Rostelecom. In November 2022, the holding announced the creation of the film distribution company NMG Kinoprokat. In January 2024, NMG launched NMG DOC – a single platform for the production and distribution of non-fiction works. In April 2024, NMG and RDIF agreed to invest in the creation of a joint Сommercial fund for the development of film and animation.


	 According to Mediascope, by the end of 2025 NMG was the leader in terrestrial TV audience share across the entire population of Russia, with a 23,77% share.


	 Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. is one of India’s largest media holdings, operating across television, digital video, film production, music content, and international distribution. Headquartered in Mumbai, the company remains one of India’s most recognizable media brands, with a strong position in entertainment and regional television. According to its annual report for FY2024–2025, Zee’s television network held a 16.8% share of the Indian TV market, reached 546 million viewers weekly, and generated 137 billion minutes of weekly viewing. A key strength of the holding is its broad linguistic and regional presence: the company works with mass entertainment content, series, films, music rights, and digital products, including the ZEE5 platform.

NMG and Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited Sign Content Production and Distribution Cooperation Agreement at SPIEF

NMG announces that it has joined China’s Belt and Road News Network, an international media cooperation network. The accession took place during the official visit of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin to China.


	 The Belt and Road News Network was initiated by Chinese President Xi Jinping in May 2017 at the First Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. The network brings together leading media outlets from countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative. NMG’s membership reflects its commitment to strengthening international dialogue, exchanging expertise, and pursuing joint development.


	 Svetlana Balanova, CEO of NMG:


	 “Joining the Belt and Road News Network gives NMG the opportunity to participate in one of the most influential international discussion platforms in the media industry. We look forward to actively exchanging experience and best practices with leading global media outlets and to developing systematic information cooperation that will allow us to expand our international audience and improve content quality through mutual exchange of expertise.”


	 “Since its establishment, our organization has consistently adhered to the principles of mutual respect, mutual assistance, independence, and voluntary participation. Its goal is to create an open platform for cooperation. It promotes communication and interaction among countries and regions participating in the Belt and Road Initiative. We warmly welcome the official accession of Russia’s National Media Group and look forward to further cooperation in information exchange, communications development, and other areas to strengthen mutual understanding among the peoples of Belt and Road countries,” the Network Secretariat said.


	 The network is governed by a Council chaired by People’s Daily, China’s largest national newspaper. Its key objective is to jointly tell the story of the initiative and strengthen communication and business cooperation among participating countries.


	 The network also organizes study visits, joint interviews involving editors and journalists from member countries, forums, specialized training sessions, and other media exchange events, thereby developing and strengthening international cooperation.


	 The Belt and Road News Network includes more than 316 media organizations from 117 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, North and South America, and Oceania.


	 ***


	 Background information


	 National Media Group is Russia’s largest private media holding. NMG manages a diversified portfolio of assets in the production, distribution, and monetization of high-quality informational and entertainment content across all types of media.


	 Key assets include the leaders of the Russian media market: broadcast TV channels REN TV, Channel Five, STS, Domashny, Che, STS Love, and STS Kids; the multimedia information center Izvestia MIC (which includes the IZ.RU portal, the Izvestia newspaper, the Izvestia TV channel, and the news services of REN TV and Channel Five); newspapers such as Sport-Express and Delovoy Peterburg, NMG Kinoprokat, сompanies engaged in the production of popular films, shows and series, as well as owning technological and marketing assets. NMG also holds an equity stake in Channel One.


	 In 2019, NMG launched the online service more.tv, and in June 2023 completed the merger of video services more.tv and Wink as part of a joint venture with PJSC Rostelecom. In November 2022, the holding announced the creation of the film distribution company NMG Kinoprokat. In January 2024, NMG launched NMG DOC – a single platform for the production and distribution of non-fiction works. In April 2024, NMG and RDIF agreed to invest in the creation of a joint Сommercial fund for the development of film and animation.


	 According to Mediascope, by the end of 2025 NMG was the leader in terrestrial TV audience share across the entire population of Russia, with a 23,77% share.

<h1>&nbsp;</h1>

NMG Joins China’s Belt and Road News Network

During the official visit of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin to the People’s Republic of China, National Media Group (NMG) signed cooperation agreements with leading Chinese media organizations China Daily, China Media Group (CMG), and Xinhua.


	 The agreement with China Daily, China’s largest English-language newspaper, was signed in the presence of the leaders of the two countries. It provides for bilateral exchange of news content and exclusive stories, as well as editorial cooperation in promoting key topics. A separate area of cooperation will be the promotion of the English-language version of the Izvestia website (IZ) to international audiences through China Daily platforms. The agreement also provides for exchanges between journalists, internships, and cooperation in covering major events, including visits by official delegations.


	 An agreement to expand cooperation between National Media Group and China Media Group (CMG) was also signed during the visit. CMG and NMG agreed to provide timely and comprehensive coverage of events related to China, Russia, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and to establish a direct communication mechanism between editors-in-chief to support coverage of emergencies and events of particular importance.


	 A key area in the new stage of cooperation with China’s Xinhua News Agency will be joint work on creating and implementing digital solutions to optimize the production, processing, and distribution of news content.


	 Svetlana Balanova, CEO of National Media Group:


	 “The agreements signed open up new opportunities for NMG’s international cooperation and strengthen professional ties between Russian and Chinese media. We are expanding interaction both in content exchange and in technological solutions, which will allow us to work more effectively with international audiences and develop modern standards for handling information in the digital environment. We are grateful to our partners at Xinhua and China Media Group for the successful cooperation already established and see new horizons for these partnerships. With CMG’s support, the Russian-Chinese film Red Silk received unprecedented media support during its release in China. And thanks to our cooperation with Xinhua, information exchange between Russia and China has reached a new level of quality. Further expansion of our joint work will allow us to introduce Russian and Chinese audiences to the best content from both countries, improve the accuracy and depth of event coverage, and contribute to the development of bilateral cultural and information dialogue.”


	 Qu Yingpu, Editor-in-Chief of China Daily:


	 “We intend to actively develop cooperation in areas such as news content exchange and professional exchanges, deepen mutual understanding between the peoples of our two countries, and make a new contribution to the China–Russia comprehensive strategic partnership and coordination for a new era. At the same time, the parties will work together to provide global audiences with more accurate and comprehensive information and promote people-to-people exchanges and mutual cultural enrichment.”


	 Shen Haixiong, President of China Media Group:


	 “Under the strategic guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the China–Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era continues to develop in a healthy, stable, and progressive manner.


	 China Media Group and the China Film Administration are actively implementing the agreements reached by the two heads of state, consistently strengthening institutional cooperation with Russian partners including VGTRK, TASS, National Media Group, and other organizations. Together, the parties have produced and released a number of high-quality film and television projects and held many major cultural and humanitarian events.


	 This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the China–Russia strategic partnership and the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation between the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation. China Media Group intends to use this important anniversary as a new opportunity to further deepen cooperation with Russian partners, promote closer and more practical interaction in film and television, and implement more active and innovative initiatives contributing to the deeper and higher-level development of China–Russia relations.”


	 Fu Hua, President of Xinhua News Agency:


	 “The new cooperation agreement is expected to further deepen interaction between the parties in such areas as news exchange, the application of new media technologies, and personnel training, while comprehensively strengthening close and pragmatic partnership. Under the strategic guidance of the heads of state of our two countries, Xinhua News Agency is ready to work with National Media Group to contribute to deepening the China–Russia comprehensive strategic partnership and coordination for a new era.”


	 ***


	 Background information


	 National Media Group is Russia’s largest private media holding. NMG manages a diversified portfolio of assets in the production, distribution, and monetization of high-quality informational and entertainment content across all types of media.


	 Key assets include the leaders of the Russian media market: broadcast TV channels REN TV, Channel Five, STS, Domashny, Che, STS Love, and STS Kids; the multimedia information center Izvestia MIC (which includes the IZ.RU portal, the Izvestia newspaper, the Izvestia TV channel, and the news services of REN TV and Channel Five); newspapers such as Sport-Express and Delovoy Peterburg, NMG Kinoprokat, сompanies engaged in the production of popular films, shows and series, as well as owning technological and marketing assets. NMG also holds an equity stake in Channel One.


	 In 2019, NMG launched the online service more.tv, and in June 2023 completed the merger of video services more.tv and Wink as part of a joint venture with PJSC Rostelecom. In November 2022, the holding announced the creation of the film distribution company NMG Kinoprokat. In January 2024, NMG launched NMG DOC – a single platform for the production and distribution of non-fiction works. In April 2024, NMG and RDIF agreed to invest in the creation of a joint Сommercial fund for the development of film and animation.


	 According to Mediascope, by the end of 2025 NMG was the leader in terrestrial TV audience share across the entire population of Russia, with a 23,77% share.

NMG Signs Cooperation Agreements with Leading Chinese Media Organizations China Daily, China Media Group and Xinhua

During the official visit of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin to China, National Media Group (NMG) and Shidao Technology Park, located in Shenzhen — one of China’s and the world’s largest technology hubs — signed a strategic partnership agreement aimed at advancing artificial intelligence and the technological transformation of the media industry.


	 Key aspects of the agreement


	 The agreement establishes a cooperation model between NMG and leading Chinese technology corporations focused on transferring advanced AI solutions to Russia, scaling them across the holding’s ecosystem, and commercializing new digital products. The pilot project will be implemented jointly with global technology leaders resident at Shidao Park specializing in business digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing.


	 As part of the technology testing program, NMG will introduce generative AI products for creating short-form series and commercials, followed by joint refinement and localization for the Russian market.


	 The partnership model is designed to accelerate the digital transformation of production processes, integrate AI solutions, and improve efficiency — from technology deployment to monetization.


	 Regional presence and co-production


	 Under the cooperation model, NMG plans to open a regional office in China in Shenzhen’s development zone (Pingshan District, Shidao Film Production and Technology Park), home to the headquarters of major Chinese technology companies.


	 Priority areas for the office include:


	 ·&nbsp;Co-production of content.


	 ·&nbsp;Joint development and implementation of AI products for media, film, and advertising.


	 “Shenzhen is an intellectual center of China’s technological development, and Shidao’s residents and partners include technology leaders such as Tencent; Volcano Engine, ByteDance’s cloud service platform; Hongguo, a platform for free viewing of micro-series and reading novels; and many others. Opening an NMG office here is important because the region is home to the headquarters of giants in China’s AI, technology, and film industries. The parties are building a partnership model to accelerate the transformation of content production, implement AI solutions, and increase the efficiency of new technologies. Cooperation with Chinese technology leaders, alongside the active development of our own digital solutions, will allow us to apply the world’s best practices for the benefit of the Russian media market and its consumers,” said Svetlana Balanova, CEO of NMG.


	 Zhang Shibao, CEO of the Shidao Film Production and Technology Cluster in Shenzhen:


	 “Shidao Park brings together a micro-series production base, a digital content community, and AI technology companies. Under the agreement, the parties will be able to exchange expertise in creating AI content for media, as well as best digital practices in the film and television industries.


	 The project is aimed at developing the digital cultural industries of both countries and strengthening cultural interaction between China and Russia. The cooperation will be an important step in developing Shenzhen’s ecosystem for film, television, and short-form content. The parties intend to build on the cluster’s technological innovation and industrial strengths, helping promote content in international and Russian-language markets and giving new momentum to China–Russia cooperation in film and television.”


	 ***


	 Additional information


	 Shenzhen’s development zone is home to the headquarters of leading Chinese technology corporations, including Tencent and Unilumin. In 2021, the Shenzhen technology cluster signed a partnership agreement with Chinese technology company ByteDance, which located its R&amp;D center in the province, bringing together a number of research laboratories, including laboratories for artificial intelligence, robotics, and quantum computing.


	 By decision of the Chinese government, the Pingshan International Film and Television Culture City in Shenzhen has been designated one of three key centers for the production of feature films, vertical series, and microdramas, with a special tax regime. The cluster includes an industrial production center used by filmmakers from North America, the EU, and Southeast Asia.


	 Pingshan District in Shenzhen is one of China’s key industrial clusters focused on high-tech sectors, including new energy and electric vehicles, semiconductors and integrated circuits, biopharmaceuticals, and others.


	 National Media Group is Russia’s largest private media holding. NMG manages a diversified portfolio of assets in the production, distribution, and monetization of high-quality informational and entertainment content across all types of media.


	 Key assets include the leaders of the Russian media market: broadcast TV channels REN TV, Channel Five, STS, Domashny, Che, STS Love, and STS Kids; the multimedia information center Izvestia MIC (which includes the IZ.RU portal, the Izvestia newspaper, the Izvestia TV channel, and the news services of REN TV and Channel Five); newspapers such as Sport-Express and Delovoy Peterburg, NMG Kinoprokat, сompanies engaged in the production of popular films, shows and series, as well as owning technological and marketing assets. NMG also holds an equity stake in Channel One.


	 In 2019, NMG launched the online service more.tv, and in June 2023 completed the merger of video services more.tv and Wink as part of a joint venture with PJSC Rostelecom. In November 2022, the holding announced the creation of the film distribution company NMG Kinoprokat. In January 2024, NMG launched NMG DOC – a single platform for the production and distribution of non-fiction works. In April 2024, NMG and RDIF agreed to invest in the creation of a joint Сommercial fund for the development of film and animation.


	 According to Mediascope, by the end of 2025 NMG was the leader in terrestrial TV audience share across the entire population of Russia, with a 23,77% share.

NMG and Shidao Technology Park in Shenzhen Launch Strategic AI Partnership

On the eve of the 81st anniversary of Victory Day National Media Group &#40;NMG&#41; in partnership with Rossotrudnichestvo is launching an international initiative to screen fiction projects with military-patriotic themes at venues abroad. 
 
Screenings will take place at Russian Houses and Russian embassy venues across CIS countries, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Countries already participating in the initiative include Belarus, Armenia, Argentina, Chile, South Ossetia, Turkmenistan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Japan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Abkhazia, Cyprus, and Italy. 
 
The program features NMG series dedicated to historical memory, heroism, and the fate of a man during wartime. Projects selected for screening include Operation Neman, SMERSH 3, Dear Willy, and Landyshi. Such a Tender Love. 
 
Svetlana Balanova, CEO of NMG: 
“Screening our military-patriotic projects abroad is an opportunity to preserve historical truth and convey a relevant picture of the world to those who live outside Russia but maintain a connection with its culture and memory. We are grateful to Rossotrudnichestvo for the partnership and the opportunity to work together to strengthen this connection.” 
 
Igor Chaika, Head of Rossotrudnichestvo: 
“Russian films are popular abroad. At Russian Houses, we regularly screen not only classic films but also new domestic releases. Many of our cinemas have been equipped with modern technology as part of a modernization program. We place special emphasis on patriotic themes and films dedicated to the Great Patriotic War, while also striving to respond to audience demand. We very much hope that viewers in participating countries will appreciate the films presented as part of our joint project and that it will expand to additional countries. Moreover, this international screening program is intended not only to recall the events of the Great Patriotic War but also to strengthen interest among the widest possible international audience in Russian content.” 
 
The NMG and Rossotrudnichestvo initiative, timed to coincide with Victory Day, focuses on a comprehensive international cultural program that combines cultural diplomacy with a meaningful dialogue about preserving historical memory. The program aims not only to commemorate the events of the Great Patriotic War but also to increase interest in Russian content among global audiences. 
 
*** 
The series Landyshi. Such a Tender Love &#40;2025&#41; tells the story of the romance between tank forces lieutenant Lekha &#40;Sergey Gorodnichiy&#41; and Katya &#40;Nika Zdorik&#41;, the heiress of a wealthy family. Produced by World Russian Studios and NMG Studio with the support of the Internet Development Institute &#40;IRI&#41;, Tavrida.ART, and the content studio Yug.Kino. 
 
The mini-series Dear Willy &#40;2025&#41; is a spy political retro detective starring Sergey Makovetsky and Kirill Kyaro. It tells the story of the secret friendship between two key geopolitical rivals in Europe, Soviet General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev and West German Chancellor Willy Brandt, which helped prevent a nuclear catastrophe. Produced by Format TV, REN TV, Studio Chekhov, KION, and PREMIER with the support of the Internet Development Institute &#40;IRI&#41;. 
 
SMERSH 3 &#40;2025&#41; is a high-intensity military detective series about the confrontation between Soviet and Nazi German intelligence services during the Great Patriotic War, starring Igor Petrenko and Vladislav Kotlyarsky. Produced by Star Media, REN TV, Zvezda, and the Wink online cinema. 
 
The historical war mini-series Operation Neman &#40;2023&#41;, directed by Sergey Vinogradov, is based on Vladimir Bogomolov’s novel In August of ’44. The cast includes Aleksandr Yatsenko, Alexey Kravchenko, Alexey Makarov, Andrey Smolyakov, and Sergey Makovetsky. Produced by Star Media Vision with the participation and support of REN TV, Zvezda, and the Wink online cinema. 
 
*** 
Background information 
 
National Media Group is Russia’s largest private media holding. NMG manages a diversified portfolio of assets in the production, distribution, and monetization of high-quality informational and entertainment content across all types of media. 
 
Key assets include the leaders of the Russian media market: broadcast TV channels REN TV, Channel Five, STS, Domashny, Che, STS Love, and STS Kids; the multimedia information center Izvestia MIC &#40;which includes the IZ.RU portal, the Izvestia newspaper, the Izvestia TV channel, and the news services of REN TV and Channel Five&#41;; newspapers such as Sport-Express and Delovoy Peterburg, NMG Kinoprokat, сompanies engaged in the production of popular films, shows and series, as well as owning technological and marketing assets. NMG also holds an equity stake in Channel One. 
 
In 2019, NMG launched the online service more.tv, and in June 2023 completed the merger of video services more.tv and Wink as part of a joint venture with PJSC Rostelecom. In November 2022, the holding announced the creation of the film distribution company NMG Kinoprokat. In January 2024, NMG launched NMG DOC – a single platform for the production and distribution of non-fiction works. In April 2024, NMG and RDIF agreed to invest in the creation of a joint Сommercial fund for the development of film and animation. 
 
According to Mediascope, by the end of 2025 NMG was the leader in terrestrial TV audience share across the entire population of Russia, with a 23,77&#37; share. 
 
The Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation &#40;Rossotrudnichestvo&#41; is a federal executive authority of the Russian Federation. Its activities are aimed at implementing state policy in the field of international humanitarian cooperation and promoting an objective image of modern Russia abroad. 
 
The agency operates representative offices abroad &#40;Russian Houses&#41; in more than 70 countries. These centers carry out humanitarian projects focused on promoting Russian culture, science, education, and language, as well as supporting compatriots and other initiatives.

NMG and Rossotrudnichestvo to Hold Overseas Screenings of Military-Patriotic Projects for Victory Day

On April 24, Olga Lyubimova, Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation and Svetlana Balanova, CEO of National Media Group &#40;NMG&#41; visited the filming set of the detective action film Black Silk. The launch of production on the international blockbuster was announced in mid-March by Nota Bene Film Group and the Commercial Fund for the Development of Film and Animation, together with distributor NMG Kinoprokat and Art Pictures Distribution &#40;part of National Media Group&#41;. The film is scheduled for release on March 31, 2027. 
 
Olga Lyubimova, Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation: 
“Cinema is a tool of cultural diplomacy and means of strengthening dialogue between countries, and Red Silk is a vivid example of this. The film explores themes relevant to the history of Russian-Chinese relations. I am confident that many more exciting joint cross-genre projects lie ahead. Black Silk will also become an important continuation of cooperation between filmmakers from Russia and China.” 
 
During the visit Olga Lyubimova and Svetlana Balanova were given a tour of the pavilion and a detailed presentation of the film’s production process. Particular attention was paid to the large-scale sets, including a Japanese passenger liner and a giant airship. The project team demonstrated technical solutions that made it possible to recreate the effect of a real storm within the studio. For this purpose, the ship’s hull is equipped with a water discharge system and mounted on a special motion platform that simulates rolling. The interior sets of the ship and the zeppelin are created using LED screens, replacing green screens and allowing for a high level of visual realism during filming. 
 
Svetlana Balanova, CEO of National Media Group: 
“Red Silk, the first part of the story, became not only a cultural but also a socio-political event last year, as it was the first modern Russian-Chinese co-production. Now Black Silk has also received official co-production status. At the same time, Black Silk is a standalone story with new mysteries and new characters. It will be clear and engaging both for fans of the first film and for those just discovering this universe, both in Russia and internationally.” 
 
The film will again feature Miloš Biković, Gleb Kalyuzhny and Zheng Hanyi. The cast also was joined by Maksim Matveev, Serbian actor Aleksandar Radojičić, Maja Giter, Alexey Takharov, Polina Kutsenko, Japanese actors Hiroyuki Mori and Junsuke Kinoshita, as well as Ilya Antonenko and Sergey Annenkov. 
 
The story unfolds in 1930s Shanghai, where a mysterious cargo codenamed Black Silk is delivered. No one knows what lies behind the codename but intelligence services from several countries are already hunting for it. 
 
The film is directed by Andrey Volgin, with a screenplay by Maria Nefedova. The story is based on a classic detective intrigue combined with large-scale action sequences. The film’s general producer is Vadim Byrkin. 
 
The project is being produced with the support of the Russian Cinema Fund, Rostec State Corporation and its subsidiaries Shvabe and KRET.

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