[5/8/07] Russian broadcaster National Broadcasting Company has launched 12 pay-TV channels on Eutelsat-W4, Eutelsat Communications announced May 7.

The transponder is being leased by RSCC acting on behalf of the broadcaster. Dubbed the Tricolor platform, the service was launched in Russia in 2005 as a free package of 15 channels.

The platform now serves 800,000 homes and National Broadcasting is forecasting a subscriber base of 1.2 million by the end of 2007.