Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective, does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.
Unfortunately, over the past year, most of the 'representatives' of the rating of the very best have lost some of their viewers (and this trend began back in 2018). Nevertheless, the channels listed below are still media giants and provide their audience with the opportunity to enjoy high-quality TV content. Next, the top seven are the most popular channels in Russia.
What you need to know about telemetry?
Influential research companies in the field of telecommunications regularly carry out comparative analysis of various TV channels, determining viewing priorities. Thus, the taste preferences of the audience of cities with a population of more than 100 thousand people are determined.
With the help of special devices, the meter records the number, type and duration of viewing of certain programs on various TV channels for an audience of 13 thousand people living in more than 5 thousand households. Then the obtained data is transferred to residents of all major cities of Russia.
What is audience share? The percentage of viewers who watched a particular channel to the entire audience who had a TV at that moment. As shown by the data of the last two years, the trend is gloomy for the media: the average daily share of viewers has been steadily declining (and in all age groups).
The most popular channels in the country
| Nomination | a place | Channel | Share of the average daily audience |
| The most popular channels in the country | 1 | Russia 1 | 9.9% |
| 2 | First channel | 9.4% | |
| 3 | NTV | 6.7% | |
| 4 | STS | 6.2% | |
| 5 | Ren-TV | 5.2% | |
| 6 | TNT | 5.0% | |
| 7 | Fifth channel | 4.8% |
Russia 1
Rating: 4.9
Share of average daily audience: 9.9%
It is not the first year that this particular channel has occupied the leading positions in the country in terms of the number of views by TV fans. The official “heir” of Soviet television, Russia 1 pleases its fans with an abundance of series for every taste and, in terms of their number and quality, can be compared with the country's “giants” in this matter – the NTV and Domashny TV channels. Among the most popular with viewers is the original domestic alternative to the famous Doctor House – the series 'Sklifosofsky'.
Although films are only the second most popular in terms of viewing popularity, the channel has managed to distinguish itself here, too, having won the interest of the TV audience by showing the film 'The Last Hero'. This is an indicative moment that clearly defines the main age category of people who prefer Russia 1 – people over 55 years old.
First channel
Rating: 4.8
Share of average daily audience: 9.4%
Although the leader of the rating is Russia 1 or more, the audience prefers TV series and films, the First firmly holds the palm in popularity thanks to entertaining TV programs. For example, the wave of popularity of 3 programs at once, the host of which is Maxim Galkin, does not subside: 'Older than everyone!', 'Best of all!' and 'Under hypnosis'. Moreover, all three programs have significant success not only on the First, but also on any other channel.
It should be noted that the predominant audience of Channel One is conservatives. Even the TV people themselves complain about this fact, stating that the audience is to blame for the excessive number of Blue Lights. And yet, the channel constantly offers its audience new shows, often far from conservative. A striking example is the sports show adaptation of the Japanese Sasuke – 'Russian Ninja'. The obstacles on this show are so difficult that not a single participant has ever made it to the finals.
Over the past year, the channel has slightly changed its main direction, or rather, expanded it – the First began to rapidly explore the online space. This move allowed him to add almost 2% to his audience.
NTV
Rating: 4.7
Share of average daily audience: 6.7%
One of the largest television channels in the country, NTV, unfortunately, is gradually losing its rating. Nevertheless, he still remains very popular among the audience, not least thanks to the series. Well, people love serials, and that's it. Over the past year, the best comedy for the channel was 'Dinosaur' with a slight criminal tinge about unusual characters with a dark past and a kind soul. The series 'Ambulance' starring Gosha Kutsenko was no less pleasant to watch.
Whatever one may say, but the audience of NTV is losing, like the rest of the participants of the seven best TV channels in Russia. Although he still remains so thanks to the loyalty of his mature audience (viewers over 45).
STS
Rating: 4.6
Share of average daily audience: 6.2%
The channel is designed primarily for a teenage audience: most of it is made up of viewers from 12 to 17 years old. Unfortunately, things have not gone very smoothly for STS lately. Not the last role in this sad situation was played by the loss of the production group Yellow, Black & White, which created such TV hits as 'Eleon' and 'Kitchen'.
The channel made an active attempt to return everything to square one (how this will turn out, it is not yet clear): the original show 'Success' was launched on the air. In fact, this is an adaptation of The Final Four, where non-professionals in music not only compete with each other in this field, but also play a survival game. Who knows, perhaps this will allow STS to regain its former popularity, although it is still a sin for him to complain.
Ren-TV
Rating: 4.5
Share of average daily audience: 5.2%
The brainchild of the media holding National Media Group, the TV audience sometimes jokingly calls an alien channel, hinting at the specifics of the TV programs offered to the viewer. The main specialization of Ren-TV is shocking secrets, mystical conspiracies, intrigues, scandalous investigations, etc. What can you do?
But there is also a downside, not so rosy: for its activity that is too active in a non-standard sense of the word, or rather, anti-scientific, the channel was awarded (if you can call it that) an 'Anti-Prize' from the country's Ministry of Education.
TNT
Rating: 4.4
Share of average daily audience: 5%
To some extent, TNT is similar to STS: we are talking about the youth of its audience. Thus, TNT is considered a popular media tool for students and young professionals (the age group of viewers is from 18 to 35 years old). As for the channel's broadcasting direction, the answer is obvious: the main activity is entertainment. The lion's share of the airtime falls on various comedy shows and series.
By the way, some of these series became the real progenitors of a whole trend in media art – to make the viewer laugh at any cost. In addition, TNT is considered one of the Runet's favorites (it is the leader in the number of views). In general, the channel's Internet audience is only 2.5% of the total number of its viewers.
Fifth channel
Rating: 4.3
Share of average daily audience: 4.8%
The St. Petersburg TV representative also managed to 'break through' into the rating of leaders in popularity among all Russian channels. Several times over the course of his career, he radically changed the concept of the programs offered to the viewer, reshaping the broadcast network for his audience.
The last conceptual decision of the channel's management is the rejection of any socio-political programs and a significant 'compression' of the airtime of entertainment TV programs. Today, Channel Five is a mass of all kinds of series for every taste.
It is noteworthy that this media girl prefers to broadcast serials mainly of her own production. And even more surprisingly, they turned out to be so popular that they allowed the channel to enter the international television arena.
Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.
