June 3, 2009, Moscow. COMSTAR – United TeleSystems (COMSTAR-UTS, LSE: CMST), the leading integrated telecommunications operator in Russia and the CIS, has announced that starting from June, basic packages of cable TV of COMSTAR-UTS Group of companies (including in companies and branches of STREAM-TV as well as Digital Telephone Networks South) will include the popular TV channel called Universal Channel.

STREAM-TV and NBCU Global Network (representative office of NBC Universal Global Networks) have concluded agreement on broadcasting of the Universal Channel to the basic cable television package subscribers of COMSTAR-UTS Group of companies. Channel inclusion into basic packages in Group cities of presence will be incremental with planned completion in fall 2009.

The Universal Channel broadcasts world-class movies and serials (production of NBC Universal, CBS Paramount, MGM, Granada and BBC). In Russia, the channel is broadcasted in Russian, 7 days a week, from 8.30 a.m. to 3.00 a.m.

Viktor Koresh, COMSTAR-UTS Vice President for Regional Development and General Director of STREAM-TV, has commented this agreement with NBC Universal Global Networks: “Providing of high-quality services to subscribers and extensive content is our top priority. In the context of restructuring of the regional business of COMSTAR-UTS Group of companies and attainment of good synergetic effect from cable assets consolidation, we continue our work with possessors of right. This work is targeted, on the one hand, at providing of high-quality and rating content to subscribers, and, on the other hand, – at cost optimization by decrease in purchasing prices, which is attained by the effect of large-scale presence of the Group. As you can see, according to our plans, a number of viewers of the Universal Channel will equal over 1 million people in several dozens of Russian cities”.

Colin McLeod, Managing Director, Central Eastern Europe, NBC Universal Global Networks said  «The deal with COMSTAR, one of Russia's largest cable operators, is a land mark in the evolution of Global Networks in Russia. We have found in COMSTAR a reliable partner, who’s commercial and content strategy is fully aligned with expectations of Global Networks.  We're pleased that COMSTAR will include Universal Channel in their basic package, making the channel available to their entire subscriber base. We welcome a further and deeper relationship with COMSTAR».

For reference: Universal Channel is the entertaining TV channel offering to its viewers the best world serials and movies starring cinema celebrities. Today, the channel can be viewed in 18 countries of the world. Broadcasting program of the Universal Channel includes world-class serials, including House, Numb3rs, Las Vegas and Psych. This is where you can watch serials that have not broadcasted in Russia up to date, for example, popular American serial Flashpoint. The channel also broadcasts Hollywood hits: Gladiator, The Fast and The Furious, Born on the Fourth of July, Blues Brothers 2000, Scarface, Blue Crush, Thelma and Louise, etc.