Inter
Corporate brand
UnclaimedInter is a major Ukrainian television channel founded in 1996 and serving as one of the broadcasters participating in Ukraine's United News telethon.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Inter is a Ukrainian television channel established in 1996 by the Ukrainian Independent TV-Corporation. It launched on the former UT-3 network and developed into one of Ukraine's most widely distributed and watched general-interest broadcasters, reaching almost the entire country through terrestrial and other distribution systems. Its programming has historically combined news, entertainment, locally produced shows, imported series, films, cultural programming, and special events. The channel's early development was connected to the post-Soviet restructuring of Ukrainian television. Russian Channel One, then known as ORT, held a minority stake in the founding corporation and supplied programming during Inter's initial period. The original shareholder structure also included Dilovyi Svit and Pegas Television. The role of Russian programming and ownership later became politically sensitive, particularly after Russia's annexation of Crimea and military intervention in Ukraine in 2014. In 2015, the Russian stake was bought out amid Ukrainian efforts to reduce Russian influence over the country's information environment. Inter's ownership changed substantially after the death of shareholder Ihor Pluzhnikov in 2005. A controlling interest passed to Ukrainian Mediaproject, associated with Valeriy Khoroshkovskyi, and the Inter Media Group was created in 2007. Dmytro Firtash later acquired full ownership of Inter Media Group from Khoroshkovskyi in 2013. The channel became part of a wider media portfolio that also included broadcasters such as NTN, K1, K2, Mega, Enter-Film, Pixel, and Zoom. The channel has repeatedly been involved in debates about editorial independence and political influence. Critics have alleged that it was aligned with the Social Democratic Party of Ukraine (united) before the Orange Revolution and later accused it of pro-government or pro-Russian editorial practices. In February 2014, sixteen Inter journalists publicly complained that they had been subjected to censorship and pressured to produce pro-government coverage of the Euromaidan events. The channel's studios were attacked and blockaded for several days in September 2016 by activists who accused it of being too sympathetic to Russia. Inter also faced criticism for the amount of Russian-language and Russian-origin entertainment broadcast during the war in Donbas. Activists monitoring television schedules reported substantial quantities of Russian films and serials in 2014 and 2015, including programs they considered favorable to the Russian armed forces. A New Year's entertainment broadcast in late 2014 and early 2015 featuring Russian performers who had supported Russia's occupation of Crimea prompted a particularly strong backlash. The Ukrainian National Council on Television and Radio issued Inter a warning in January 2015, while Kyivstar temporarily stopped purchasing advertising on the channel, citing a mismatch with its stated patriotic values. Following Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, Inter's normal operations were severely disrupted. The channel joined the state-coordinated United News telethon, an around-the-clock information service created to provide wartime news and public communication. Its schedule, programming mix, and editorial policies changed substantially. Inter also agreed to make its satellite signal available without encryption so that viewers outside Ukraine could follow the country's wartime coverage. In 2025, the media group announced staff reductions and financial difficulties affecting its news operation. It was reported that correspondent and journalistic bureaus in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Belgium would close from August 1, 2025, while the United States bureau would remain open.
History
Inter was created in 1996 by the Ukrainian Independent TV-Corporation and began broadcasting on the former UT-3 network. Its initial ownership reflected the complex media and political economy of post-independence Ukraine. Dilovyi Svit held a majority stake, Pegas Television held another substantial share, and Russian Channel One held a 29 percent interest. Channel One also supplied programming, giving Inter access to a large Russian television production base during its early years. The ownership structure changed after the unexpected death of Ihor Pluzhnikov in 2005. A controlling block associated with Dilovyi Svit and part of Pegas Television passed to Ukrainian Mediaproject, headed by Valeriy Khoroshkovskyi. Khoroshkovskyi became head of the channel's supervisory body and introduced management changes. In 2007, Ukrainian Mediaproject served as the basis for the creation of U.A. Inter Media Group, a holding structure that expanded beyond the flagship channel into a portfolio of Ukrainian television stations and production businesses. Inter's corporate position changed again in 2013, when Dmytro Firtash acquired 100 percent of Inter Media Group from Khoroshkovskyi. The group subsequently operated a collection of channels and media assets, including NTN, K1, K2, Mega, Enter-Film, Pixel, and Zoom. Inter itself also developed related production and distribution projects. These included 07 Production, a documentary studio; NIS, associated with the Podrobytsi information program; and Pirat Production, an entertainment-show studio. The channel's international arm, Inter Plus, began broadcasting on January 13, 2003. It was designed for Ukrainians abroad and carried selected Inter programming in North America and Europe. It was distributed through Dish Network in the United States and through cable and satellite platforms in Europe. Its Dish Network availability ended in 2011, while later distribution continued through other providers, including an IPTV service in Canada. Inter's editorial role became increasingly controversial during Ukraine's political crises. Critics linked the channel's earlier coverage to the Social Democratic Party of Ukraine (united), while former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko declined to appear on Inter programs in 2009, alleging problems with the professionalism of the channel's associates. During the Euromaidan crisis in February 2014, sixteen Inter journalists said that they had been censored and pressured to produce pro-government propaganda. The channel temporarily replaced its ordinary schedule with live parliamentary coverage amid reports of a possible attack on its headquarters. The dispute occurred shortly before President Viktor Yanukovych was removed from office. After Russia's annexation of Crimea and intervention in eastern Ukraine, Inter was criticized for continuing to broadcast Russian films, serials, and other Russian-origin programming. Activist monitoring groups reported that Russian material occupied many hours of the daily schedule and argued that some programs presented Russian military forces favorably. Protesters organized a December 2014 demonstration outside the Kyiv headquarters. The dispute intensified after the channel broadcast a New Year's entertainment program featuring Russian performers who had supported the occupation of Crimea. The program prompted condemnation from Ukrainian officials, cultural figures, and activists. In January 2015, the national broadcasting regulator issued Inter a warning, and Kyivstar stopped purchasing advertising on the channel. The channel remained under pressure during the war in Donbas. In September 2016, Inter's studios were attacked and blockaded for three days by the St Mary's Battalion, whose members accused the broadcaster of being excessively pro-Russian. The incident illustrated the broader conflict over media ownership, national identity, language, and wartime information policy. Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022 brought a fundamental change in Inter's operations. The channel joined United News, a state-coordinated, continuously broadcast telethon intended to provide public information and counter Russian wartime narratives. Inter's ordinary schedule, program mix, and editorial approach were radically altered. It also made its satellite signal available without encryption to increase global access to Ukrainian coverage. By 2024 and 2025, the group reported improved performance across its channels, but its news operation subsequently faced financial pressure and staff reductions. In July 2025, the closure of several European correspondent bureaus was announced for August, with layoffs affecting some employees. Inter therefore remains an active Ukrainian broadcaster, but its current identity is closely tied to wartime information broadcasting rather than its earlier general-entertainment schedule.
- 2025
European bureaus scheduled to close
[1]Inter announces staff reductions and plans to close its United Kingdom, German, and Belgian correspondent bureaus from August 1.
- 2022
Inter joins United News
[1]Following Russia's full-scale invasion, Inter becomes part of Ukraine's continuous United News telethon.
- 2015
Russian stake is bought out
[1]The remaining Russian Channel One interest is bought out amid Ukrainian efforts to limit Russian information influence.
- 2013
Firtash acquires Inter Media Group
[1]Dmytro Firtash acquires the media group from Valeriy Khoroshkovskyi.
- 2007
Inter Media Group is established
[1]Ukrainian Mediaproject becomes the basis for a larger media holding known as U.A. Inter Media Group.
- 2005
Ownership changes after Pluzhnikov's death
[1]The death of shareholder Ihor Pluzhnikov triggers a transfer of substantial interests to Ukrainian Mediaproject, associated with Valeriy Khoroshkovskyi.
- 2003
Inter Plus launches
[1]The international version of Inter begins serving Ukrainian audiences in North America and Europe.
- 1996
Inter begins broadcasting
[1]The Ukrainian Independent TV-Corporation launches Inter on the former UT-3 network.
Products and positioning
A broad-reach Ukrainian general-interest television broadcaster combining news, entertainment, and cultural programming, with a major wartime role through the United News telethon.
General-interest television channel · 1996
Inter
The flagship Ukrainian television channel, offering a broad mix of news, entertainment, cultural programming, documentaries, films, and series. Historically distributed across almost all of Ukraine, it became heavily focused on continuous wartime information coverage after joining the United News telethon in 2022.
International television channel · 2003
Inter Plus
An international network carrying selected Inter programming for Ukrainians living abroad. It launched in 2003 and was distributed through satellite, cable, and IPTV services in North America and Europe, although its availability has changed over time.
News programming
Podrobytsi
Inter's news brand and information-service output. Podrobytsi has been associated with the channel's news production operations and became part of its wider wartime information role during the United News telethon period.
Controversies
2016
Inter studios attacked and blockaded
The channel's studios were attacked and then blockaded for three days by the St Mary's Battalion, whose members accused Inter of being excessively pro-Russian.
2015
New Year's show featuring pro-occupation Russian performers
A New Year's program broadcast from December 31, 2014 into January 1, 2015 featured Russian performers who had supported Russia's occupation of Crimea. Ukrainian officials, activists, and cultural figures condemned the broadcast, and Inter's news service publicly distanced itself from the entertainment program.
2014
Journalists allege censorship during Euromaidan
Sixteen Inter journalists said they had been censored and pressured to produce pro-government propaganda while covering the Euromaidan crisis. The channel's normal programming was temporarily replaced by live parliamentary proceedings amid security concerns at its headquarters.
2014
Criticism over Russian programming
Activists criticized Inter for broadcasting large quantities of Russian films and serials during the war in Donbas, arguing that some content glorified Russian armed forces and conflicted with Ukraine's wartime information needs.
Marketing campaigns
- 2022United News telethon
Ukraine · International audiences
Inter joined Ukraine's state-coordinated round-the-clock news telethon after the full-scale Russian invasion, contributing its news and broadcasting resources to national wartime information coverage.
Outcome. The initiative became the central framework for Inter's wartime schedule and substantially changed the channel's programming and editorial operations.
- 2014Blacklist Inter
Ukraine
Activists and viewers used boycott initiatives, including the Blacklist Inter movement, to protest what they described as biased coverage and the channel's use of Russian-origin programming during the war in Donbas.
Outcome. The campaign contributed to sustained public pressure and calls for advertisers and regulators to act, but the available reference material does not establish a complete commercial outcome.
- 2014Do not kill our protectors by Russian propaganda!
Ukraine
Boycott Russian Films activists demonstrated outside Inter's Kyiv headquarters, placing photographs of Ukrainian soldiers killed during the conflict at the entrance and protesting the amount and character of Russian film and serial content.
Outcome. The protest heightened scrutiny of Inter's schedule and was followed by continuing regulatory and advertiser criticism.
Brand decisions
2025
Reduce foreign news-bureau operationsStrategyBackground
Inter Media Group reported financial difficulties affecting its news operation and announced staff reductions.
Action taken
The group announced that correspondent and journalistic bureaus in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Belgium would close from August 1, 2025, while the United States bureau would remain open.
Aftermath
Some employees were laid off and Inter's international reporting footprint was reduced.
2022
Shift to United News wartime broadcastingStrategyBackground
Russia's full-scale invasion severely disrupted Inter's normal operations and reduced the personnel available for its news production.
Action taken
Inter joined the state-coordinated United News telethon and radically changed its schedule, program mix, and editorial policies. It also decoded satellite signals for wider international access.
Aftermath
The channel's identity became closely associated with national wartime information coverage, while its former general-entertainment schedule was substantially reduced.
2015
Buy out the Russian minority stakeStrategyBackground
Russian Channel One had held a 29 percent interest in the founding corporation and supplied programming. After Russia's actions in Crimea and eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian policymakers emphasized reducing Russian influence over national media.
Action taken
The Russian stake was bought out, ending Channel One's ownership position in Inter's founding company.
Aftermath
The change removed a formal Russian shareholder interest, although debate over Russian-language and Russian-origin content continued.
Recent events
Reported
Inter receives U.S. and Brazil authorizations for USEND acquisition[2]
Inter announced that it had received all authorizations in the United States and Brazil to acquire 100% of USEND. The source does not state that the acquisition had been completed.
Reported
Inter announces approved acquisition of USEND[3]
Inter announced that it had been approved to acquire USEND, a service offering transfers, payments and other services. The source does not report that the acquisition was completed.
Sources3 sources
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