MOSCOW, Jan. 20, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CTC Media (Nasdaq:CTCM) announces the appointment of Lika Blank as Head of Domashny Channel with effect from January 20, 2014.

In her role, Lika Blank will be responsible for strategic planning of Channel's development at a time of increasing competition on the television market, strengthening the creative team, and reinforcing the channel's content policy. Lika will also work on further position and promotion of Domashny as a bright and emotion-filled television channel with dynamic content for modern women and increasing the channel's audience share in young female audience.

Yuliana Slashcheva, CTC Media's Chief Executive Officer: "We all really love Domashny Channel and believe in its huge potential for further growth. With Lika Blank's appointment, the market and viewers will see a new Domashny already this year. Lika's experience in planning, creating, and promoting in-demand content for a young viewing audience combined with the Domashny team's experience will make it possible to realize the creative potential of one of CTC Media family's key brands in a new way. A strong team that knows how to turn bold creative ideas into reality and monetize them has and always will be our main asset."

Lika Blank: "I am happy to be joining the team of professionals at CTC Media, a company that holds the leading positions on Russia's media market. Domashny Channel has successfully and actively developed from the moment it was created and I am certain that my experience will help in forming its new face, its content policy, and continuing to increase its indicators."

Notes to editors

Link Blank has worked in television and journalism for 16 years. In 2013, she consulted for a range of major companies in the field of creating and promoting media content. From 2010 to 2013, she held the position of General Producer at MTV Russia. She was also managing director and was responsible for business strategy, financial planning, making and launching entertainment, commercial, and news programs. During this time, MTV Russia presented new programs, including shows with Russia's most popular TV hosts, which helped strengthen the channel's position. From 2008 to 2010, Lika Blank was the executive producer and head of business development for the national German television channel 'Das Vierte'; in 2006-2008, she was the producer and director for acquisitions and business development for the channel Mini Movie in the USA, Luxembourg, and Russia. From 1997 to 2006, she held different positions in European and Russian media companies, including the Russian bureau of ZDF and at REN-TV.

Natalia Korotkova, the channel's previous head, decided to leave the company.

About CTC Media

CTC Media is a leading Russian independent media company, with operations throughout Russia and elsewhere in the CIS. It operates three free-to-air television networks in Russia – CTC, Domashny and PERETZ – as well as Channel 31 in Kazakhstan and a TV company in Moldova, with a combined potential audience of over 150 million people. The international pay-TV version of the CTC channel is available in North America, Europe, Central Asia, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, the Middle East and Kyrgyzstan. PERETZ is also available in Belarus. CTC Media has a number of digital entertainment media assets: videomore.ru, domashniy.ru, ctc.ru, peretz.ru. The Company's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "CTCM".  For more information on CTC Media, please visit www.ctcmedia.ru.

CONTACT: For further information, please visit www.ctcmedia.ru or
         contact:

         Irina Faritova
         Head of Investor Relations
         +7 495 981 0740
         ir@ctcmedia.ru

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