Netflix suspends service in Russia, Banijay preps Ukraine benefit concert

The Together for Ukraine concert on DR1 and TV2 will raise funds and awareness for the country

US streaming giant Netflix has suspended its service in Russia over the country’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

A Netflix representative said: “Given the circumstances on the ground, we have decided to suspend our service in Russia.”

The move follows last week’s news that the company had paused all future projects in and acquisitions from Russia.

Last year, Netflix ramped up its Russian-language commissions following the success of thriller To the Lake, which is produced by Moscow-based 1-2-3 Production.

It has previously wrapped production on Nothing Special, about an actor and his voluntary work at a charity that supports people with disabilities, and an as-yet-untitled psychological drama starring Alexander Petrov (Ice 1-2, Method).

Drama Anna K (working title), based on Leo Tolstoy’s novel Anna Karenina and produced by 1-2-3 Production, also wrapped last year. Anna K is directed by Valeriy Fedorovich, Evgeniy Nikishov, Natasha Merkulova, Aleksey Chupov and Roman Kantor.

Its latest Russian original, a neo-noir detective drama called ZATO, is now on hold. The mystery series is about an ambitious journalist Kristina and a cop Dashkin leading an investigation into the disappearance of a child in a restricted access town Lobachevsk – 4 in the 1990s.

The series was to be directed by Darya Zhuk and Stanislav Libin with Misha Shprits, Ilya Shein and Ksenia Mchedlidze writing the script.

Netflix had earlier confirmed it will not carry Russian state television channels on its service.

In Russia, platforms with more than 100,000 viewers are required to carry 20 free-to-air channels including Channel One, Spa and NTV. That rule had been slated to come into effect for Netflix on March 1 but the streamer has declined to comply.

As Russia continues to lay siege to Ukrainian cities, Western companies have been withdrawiing their services from Russia in protest.

Last week, Russia rushed through draconian measures punishing the spreading of what it describes as “fake news” about the country’s armed forces, with penalties of up to 15 years in prison. This has led Chinese-owned TikTok to suspend live streaming and uploading of new content from Russia.

In a series of tweets the company said: “In light of Russia’s new ‘fake news’ law, we have no choice but to suspend livestreaming and new content to our video service while we review the safety implications of this law. Our in-app messaging service will not be affected.”

European production and distribution group Banijay became the latest big name in the content business to suspend its Russian operations at the end of last week.

Today the company announced that Nordisk Film TV Denmark, a Banijay Nordic label, will produce benefit concert Together for Ukraine for DR1 and TV2 in Denmark on Saturday March 12.

Taking place in City Hall Square in Copenhagen at 19.30, the concert will feature some of the best Danish musicians and viewers will have the chance to donate funds to the aid agencies before, during and after the event.

In the UK, ViacomCBS-owned Channel 5 will be airing a one-off programme highlighting the volunteering efforts around the UK for the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and showing how viewers can play their part.

Ukraine: How YOU Can Help will air on Friday March 11 at 21.00, fronted by Jeremy Vine and produced by ITN Productions, with a mixture of live guests and pre-recorded items.

Independent Canadian culinary broadcaster Gusto TV has also backed out of its distribution agreement with Russia’s Red Media.

“Gusto TV and its content are seen in over 160 countries including Russia. In light of recent events we are cancelling our deal with Red Media,” said Chris Knight, President and CEO of Gusto Worldwide Media. “We are very proud of what we do, but at the end of the day it’s just television.”