In 2023, Russian online cinemas expanded their slate of original films and TV series to 156 screenings, a figure that nearly doubled the 2022 level. This trend has been highlighted by market observers as a clear indicator of the growing in-house production capacity across leading streaming platforms, with analytics firm TelecomDaily providing the data cited by industry press.
Industry participants note that by the end of the year, video services not only increased their viewer bases but also boosted profits, with a primary driver being the release of titles created in-house. This shift reflects how domestic companies leveraged the vacuum left by the departure of foreign competitors, reshaping the competitive landscape and accelerating the consolidation of local content ecosystems.
At year-end the ranking among platforms by sheer volume of projects placed Start cinema at the forefront with 33 projects, followed by KION with 27 and Premier with 24. This trio illustrated the concentration of original programming within a relatively small group of operators, signaling where audiences were most likely to find fresh, exclusive content.
The leading services by feature film screenings showed Start in first place with 15 titles, KION in second with 11, and Okko in third with 9. User perception across surveys and consumer feedback often positioned Start as the most reliable source of original movies and series, while Wink and Kinopoisk also maintained strong reputations in the market, underscoring a competitive spectrum for private screening libraries and streaming bundles.
There were reports that the series Alice Can’t Wait was removed from some catalog offerings, reflecting ongoing content curation and licensing decisions that shape what audiences can access on various platforms. Such moves are typical in a market driven by licensing windows, regional restrictions, and shifting strategic priorities among operators.
Across the broader Russian streaming landscape, platforms continue investing in user experience, licensing strategies, and cross-platform distribution to attract subscribers in a fiercely competitive environment. The emphasis on own-produced content remains a central strategy, as platforms seek longer-term engagement by offering exclusive stories, serialized formats, and premium productions that can justify subscription prices and attract new audiences. As the market evolves, viewers in Russia, and observers internationally, watch to see how licensing dynamics, international partnerships, and regional regulation will influence the availability of popular titles and the emergence of new local stars on screen.