STB (TV channel)

STB СТБ
File:Stb tv ukraine.jpg
Launched	June 2, 1997
Owned by	StarLightMedia Group 50% Modern Times Group
Picture format	16:9 (576i, SDTV)
Slogan	When you are at home
Country	Ukraine
Headquarters	Kiev, Ukraine
Website	www.stb.ua

STB (Ukrainian: СТБ) is a Ukrainian commercial television network. Today, the coverage area of the network is 85% of Ukraine's territory. It is broadcast in all oblast centers and all Ukrainian cities with a population greater than 50,000. It occupies the 1st place in the list of the leading TV networks in Ukraine.

History

The founders of the networks were Ukrainian and American companies: International Media Center, Shachar Enterprises, Inc., Internews Netouron K. The STB was launched on June 2, 1997. Since 1997, STB was controlled by Volodymyr Sivkovych, a Ukrainian businessman and politician. He was the one, who decided to create the TV channel. Since September, 1996, the crew of STB broadcast news (under title "Vikna" (eng.- "Windows")) on the frequency of UT-2.

In 1999 STB fell under the influence of companies of Lukoil Group. Oleksiy Fedun became the executive president of the network.

In 2000 the popularity of the channel rose. The most popular programs are Vikna. News., Vikna. Business., Vikna. Capital-city., Vikna. Crimes., Vikna. Sport. and Vikna. Midnight. STB becomes an info-channel.

In 2000 Windows (Ukrainian: Вікна) was registered as a trademark of STB. In 2001 STB became a registered trademark. STB became the first Ukrainian television network that got a doman name and website - stb.ua.

In 2002 the administration of STB changes its brand as an info-channel. There are more entertaining programs on air, such as, National Striptise Championship of Ukraine, reality-shows "The House" and "Starving", and the scandalous talk show "Restricted Zone". Tee popularity of STB falls. Lukoil tries to sell STB.

In 2004 STB becomes the property of one of Viktor Pinchuk's companies.

In 1997-2007 many famous television personalities have worked at STB. The most popular of them are Mykola Veresen', Georgiy Gongadze, Myroslava Gongadze, Iryna Vannikova, Yurii Horban', Roman Skrypin, Oleksii Mustafin, Kateryna Nesterenko, Natalka Yakymovych, Ihor Tatarchuk, Osman Pashayev and Alena Vinnytska.

STB today

Since 2005 the programs of STB were changed. The group of news programs called Windows got a better look (They began to look very close to BBC News). New popular shows were introduced. Thanks to the format change, STB entered the top 5 Ukrainian channels by share in 2006, and in 2007 it became the 3rd largest Ukrainian channel by audience share (appr. 8% for 18+ audiences). STB's most popular programs are "Paralelnyi Svit" (Parallel World) and "Bytva Ekstrasensiv" (Psychic Challenge). In 2008 STB launched the "Tantsuyut Vsi" (So You Think You Can Dance) talent show. In May, 2009, STB started the "Ukraina maye Talant" ("Ukraine's Got Talent") show, similar to ITV's Britain's Got Talent.

Related to the Crimean crises 2014 STB broadcasts in Sevastopol ended on 9 March 2014, 14:30 o'clock East European time

Language policy

Is one of a few ukrainian TV channels, which use particular rules of Kharkiv orthography in some TV programms. That causes both compliments and critics from the society.

See also: Boycott Russian Films

But, according to monitoring data made by "Boycott Russian Films" campaign activists on 27 September 2014, there was approximately 54% of Russian language content on the channel.

See also

• StarLightMedia Group

External links

• Official Site