Muz-TV

Muz-TV (Russian: Муз-ТВ, from Музыкальное телевидение - Music Television) is a Russian music TV channel, broadcasting since 1996. It is largely modelled after western MTV and predates launching of MTV Russia in 1998. Muz-TV was founded by Sergey Lisovsky and Boris Zosimov. The CEO of Muz-TV is Zakhar Babin. In 2011, Muz-TV is owned by UTH Russia, which is, in turn, 49% owned by MTV. In 2024, Ivan Tavrin's Kismet Group agreed to sell media assets, including the Muz-TV and Yu TV channels, as well as the radio station Choose Radio, to a group of investors including Media Telecom (JV Rostelecom and National Media Group). Muz-TV's format is Russian pop music videos, although international pop, hip-hop and contemporary R&B can be occasionally seen as well. There are charts for both local and international acts, voted via channel's website. Much like MTV, in the late 2000s Muz-TV became more an entertainment channel broadcasting reality shows, rather than a music channel. After the re-branding of 16 September 2012 "Muz-TV" has moved to a new frequency, changing the concept back to the "musical" On its old frequency, a new youth entertainment channel "U", which consists of programs previously aired on the Muz-TV (except musical programs), as well as new programs and series, both purchased and own production. On December 14, 2012, the Muz-TV channel became free again, and received the right to broadcast on digital television.