The process of changing ownership of foreign media companies keeps on in Russia. So, the Sony Pictures Television has recently sold its Russian assets (Sony Turbo, Sony Entertainment Television, Sony Sci-Fi) to Vladimir Khanumyan, the former top-manager of largest Russian media holdings like “Gazprom-Media”, “Mass Media Systems”, “National Media Group”.
This information was made public by the “Kommersant” edition, referring to its own sources. According to the newspaper, the US Corporation sold its Russian assets in time, as in two weeks the Roskomnadzor starts its inspections on meeting the requirement to limit the share of foreign capital in the Russian mass media.
After 2008, Vladimir Khanumyan headed TV broadcasting sector at the “National Media Group” for two years, and in 2010-2014 headed the “Mass media systems” corporation. In 2014- 2015 he worked in the team of Mikhail Lesin at the “Gazprom Media”, but due to dismissing the latter was forced out of leaving the holding.
The sale of foreign-owned Russian TV business has become commonplace. So, the TV1000 and the Viasat owned by the MTG Company (Switzerland) were sold to the Russian media businessman Anatoliy Karyakin. In order to run its Russian business, the Eurosport and the Discovery Communications established a joint company “Alliance Media” co-owned by the Russian NMH. So did the US Company Turner, the owner of the CNN channel. Those decisions of foreign companies made possible their further operation in Russia and allowed them making money on TV advertising.
