From December 10, 2007 OJSC North-West Telecom started providing the Avangard TV service on the commercial basis in St. Petersburg. The Company positions the Avangard TV project as an extra service for users of the broadband Internet access service under the Avangard brand.

Avangard TV is a set of interactive multimedia service via an ADSL high-rate channel. Subscribers connecting the Avangard TV service will get access to the following interactive digital TV services:

- Watching TV channels of different theme content, in the digital mode, with program recording enabled;

- “Video on Demand": Access to a continuously updated video library: films, TV and musical programs, for personal watching;

- “Web Recorder”: Ordering recording of current and future programs with subsequent watching when convenient*;

- “Watch Program from Beginning”: Watching a program already on air even if it started long ago*;

- “TV Programs Archive”: Watching programs that have been shown before*;

The subscribers connect the following Avangard TV packages:

- “Premiere” Basic package comprising 33 channels at a subscriber fee of 150 rubles per month;

- “Grand Premiere” Extended package comprising 55 channels at a subscriber fee of   300 rubles per month;

Also, you may order for a special price, additionally to the Premiere basic package or Grand Premiere extended package, the following theme packages:

- “Adult Stories” Theme package at 200 rubles per month;

- “Football” Theme package, one channel at 300 rubles per month.

per order, and Category 3 (Film Archive) at 30 rubles per film.

Recording of one program using the “Web Recorder” will cost 10 rubles. The “Watch Program from Beginning” and “TV Programs Archive” services, are also priced at 10 rubles per order, for a period of validity of 3 days.

The price of connection to the Avangard TV service is 1500 rubles. This amount covers access to the Avangard TV service, and installation and adjustment of the equipment in the users’ homes.

The Avangard TV service will be provided on N.W.Telecom’s equipment to be leased to the user. The equipment rental is 100 rubles per month.

In the initial phase of the service, i.e. before 01.02.2008, a special offer of 50% discount on the Video on Demand service will be granted to all users connected to Avangard TV.

Apart from St. Petersburg, the Avangard TV project will soon be launched in Veliky Novgorod, where it is intended to connect 1500 users at the initial stage. In early 2008, the service development plans for other regions of the North-Western Federal District.

Comments O. V. Popov, Associate General Manager and Commercial Manager of N.W. Telecom, “There are many users preferring to buy quality content at adequate prices, and desirably without walking outdoors. It is these people that will become the core users of IP TV. The philosophy of the Avangard TV project is the unique nature of channels offered, and the Video on Demand (VoD) service means ability to use a continuously updated video library. We understand that today’s user cannot be impressed by the number of channels any more, so we emphasize the “niche” content intended for a limited audience.”

You will find more information on the Avangard TV service, the list and contents of TV channels, video library available, service prices, and connection procedures on the product website www.avangard-tv.ru.

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* provided on TV channels where the service is permitted by the right holder.