The battle for the viewer: Actava TV won the trial of the leading Russian channels and returned Russian television in the US

Most immigrants in America try not to lose touch with their homeland, regardless of the age at which they moved to a new country. Often, even a person who is fully integrated into American society needs to maintain this connection and feel involved in their native culture. And in this immigrant helps television in their native language, which becomes a kind of bridge between the two homelands.

Фото: Depositphotos

Among the audience of Russian-language channels there are representatives of all ages: some buy Russian-language television for elderly parents, others - for their young children, so that they can watch cartoons in their native language and learn it at the same time, others - for themselves, in order to preserve the memory of their first life, covered with a touch of nostalgic charm. homeland.

In general, the Russian-speaking population of the United States, according to various estimates, reaches 5 million. Television in their own language via the Internet is provided by several companies operating in the television services market. Actava TV can be called the most popular company offering to subscribe to an Internet service for Russian-language television in America. Its customers can count on access to 170 channels from Russia, Ukraine, Israel and the CIS countries, as well as an extensive video library. How to find a successful business model and provide viewers with a stable service - ForumDaily tells a business case Actava TV.

Successful business model

Actava TV know and love across America. Its subscribers have become a lot of Russian-speaking residents from various states. And this service is especially popular in New York. In the office Actava TV In the heart of Manhattan, life is in full swing - the company is developing plans to conquer the Russian-language television market in America. And they have something to offer their potential clients. In addition to 170 channels from Russia, Ukraine, Israel and the CIS countries, the company provides its subscribers who already have an Internet connection with access to a voluminous and unparalleled video library - films, television programs, television plays that can be watched in recordings, without advertising.

Office of the company.
Photo: Actava TV

However, two years ago it was not so rosy. In 2016, the company became involved in legal disputes, and it had to defend its right to work. The largest Russian TV channels sued her. They filed similar claims to many other providers, making a claim about the illegality of broadcasting their content. Actava TV the first of the respondents initiated negotiations on a legal settlement of the issue and signed an agreement with the television channels in record time. Quick agreement with channels for Actava TV was a matter of principle - the company puts customer care and maintaining its reputation in the first place. At the same time, a number of other providers are still unsuccessfully trying to resolve legal problems.

After signing the agreement Actava TV changed its business model and entered into a contract with the company Matvil, the largest broadcaster in North America. According to the agreement, broadcasting is carried out from the company's servers. Matvil, which has all the necessary licenses and permits from Russian TV channels. Actava TV in turn, advertises and promotes their service, ensuring the flow of customers and their support.

So Actava TV offered its customers a modified service or a refund - at the choice of the client. it It was an unprecedented phenomenon in the market.

According to the co-owner of the company Matvil Michael Geister, with Actava TV they ended up with mutually beneficial cooperation.

“At one time, we concluded agreements with various Russian, Israeli, and American copyright holders. These are TV channels, film studios, production centers that make products in Russian and the languages ​​of the former USSR countries - Ukrainian, Belarusian, and so on. WITH Actava TV we have concluded a contract - they sell our broadcasting to clients, sign clients for our service. Such cooperation is beneficial for both corporations. Have Actava TV very good positions in New York and Chicago, they have a good advertising policy,” says Mikhail.

The head of the company Actava TV Ruslan Tsutiev emphasizes: such an agreement was beneficial not only for his company, but also for Russian channels - because the promotion of the service Matvil led to an increase in their profits.

How to win the court of the television giants

Despite this, about six months later, the Russian TV channels decided to return to court, possibly for some reason trying to oust them altogether. Actava TV from the market. They accused the company of allegedly wrongful conduct of business. According to the head of the legal department Actava TV Mikhail Lezhnev, this situation may have arisen due to a complete lack of understanding of some technical aspects of the company's business activities. Co-owner Matvil Mikhail Gaister confirmed in court: TV channels demanded that Actava TV did not participate in the chain "Russian channels - Matvil - consumers ", but their claims were unfounded and illegal.

Mikhail Lezhnev.
Photo: Actava TV

The TV channels used the arguments during the trial, which the American court considered to have no basis. For example, one of the charges concerned the sale Actava TV to its customers receivers with software installed in them Matvil. According to the logic of representatives of Russian channels, since their films and programs are company Matvil broadcasts through receivers owned Actava TVthen it can be argued that technically it Actava TV transmits their licensed content, and therefore must obtain a license from them. Judge Barbara Moses considering this case, however, did not convince such an argument. The judge supported the position of the representatives Actava TVwho claimed to have company permission Matvil to offer the content received from her, and Matvil, in turn, has a license to broadcast products of Russian channels

Eventually ActavaTV managed to prove his innocence to the court - the trial ended in September 2017. It has been proven that Actava TV did not commit any unlawful acts, and all claims were completely withdrawn by the court. The decision of Judge Barbara Moses said: “For the reasons listed above, I find that the plaintiffs could not provide sufficiently serious evidence of the violation, and therefore there are no grounds for the judge to testify the facts of the violation. Claims of claimants regarding violations of civil law are rejected. ”

Screenshot from the court decision

Screenshot from the court decision

Screenshot from the court decision

Screenshot from the court decision

Screenshot from the court decision

“We won the trial on all counts,” says the company president ActavaTV Ruslan Tsutiev. “Our opponents didn’t even file an appeal, although they had this right, since our victory was absolutely obvious.” The court confirmed that we work with all licenses, with all rights, and have full rights to our activities.”

New stage

Maria Lerner from Alston, Massachusetts, is not interested in the details of the proceedings, it’s important that Actava TV she can again watch Russian channels and old Soviet films. During the trial Actava TV was forced to provide a service in an abbreviated version.

Maria Lerner.
Photo: Actava TV

"We got a call from Actava TV and they said: we have minor difficulties, we will fully refund your money. And they fully refunded the entire advance payment,” recalls Maria.

She was looking for a different provider for a long time and eventually concluded a contract. However, Maria admits, after Actava TV The quality of service from the new company did not satisfy her. Therefore, as soon as I read in the press that Actava TV returned to the market - immediately returned to your favorite service.

Now Actava TV engaged in subscription clients for corporation Matvil, which broadcasts Russian channels. According to the company's management, they are absolutely sure that there will be no more failures in the broadcasts. "A lot of money and effort has been invested in relationships with channels from both Actava TV, and from the side Matvil. It’s hard to imagine that copyright holders could make any additional claims or complaints,” says Mikhail Lezhnev, head of the company’s legal department.

To our clients Actava TV Now offers to subscribe to a television service via the Internet. And these are 170 channels from different countries: not only Russia, Israel and Ukraine, but also Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Estonia, Kazakhstan and others. Also, users of the service can look at already past programs - on many channels you can find an archive of up to two weeks. Therefore, if you missed your favorite program, you can easily find a record in the archive. Well, the most important bonus for all clients is unlimited access to the video library, which has no competitors among American companies. Subscribing to Actava TV awaits 100 thousand (!) films for every taste, conveniently divided into thematic categories, as well as thousands and thousands of concerts, programs, performances, available at any time! All this is in Russian, without advertising and, importantly, without additional payment, since the use of the video library is already included in the price of the package. So Russian-speaking residents of the United States can easily watch familiar channels, a variety of programs and favorite films - and all this Actava TV.

Read also on ForumDaily:

Russian TV is sweeping across America: why are viewers getting bigger

What are all the immigrants silently silent about

How does it feel to be Russian in modern America

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.