Rising Russian streamer KION unveils originals slate at Mipcom

Fast-growing Russian VOD platform KION is bringing a diverse slate of original content to Mipcom this year as it tries to replicate its domestic success in the international market. Six months after the streaming service was launched by telecom giant MTS, company execs say they’re aiming to grow their subscriber base to 3.8 million by the end of the year as the Russian SVOD arms race heats up.

“We have a very competitive market in Russia,” said Igor Mishin, VP for media business development at MTS and CEO of MTS Media. To keep pace, added the veteran producer, KION hopes to launch between 30 and 40 originals each year. By year’s end, the company expects to have 10,000 titles on its streaming service, although Mishin stressed that the size of KION’s library is hardly the key to its growth prospects.