| According to the agreement, RTL Group will purchase 50 per cent of the shares of Content Union S.A. (CUSA) in which CFG already contributed its four own produced Russian thematic channels, called Russkiy Illusion (Russian movies), Illusion Plus (international classic movies), Detskiy (children’s channel) and Zoo Park (animal channel). These channels are also distributed in the cable networks of Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova and Georgia. In addition, the joint venture will act as a distribution agent for third-party channels.
With the deal RTL Group will enter the nascent Russian satellite and cable TV market, thereby strengthening its presence in one of the fastest growing advertising markets. In 2005, RTL Group acquired a 30 per cent shareholding in the terrestrial TV network Ren TV which will continue to operate independently from the newly created joint venture.
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