RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS

RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS

16.   RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Transactions with principal stockholders

        On June 1, 2011, Alfa Group sold 25.15% of the Company's common stock to Telcrest Investments Limited.

        Alfa Group—In the period from June 1, 2011 through December 15, 2011, a representative of Alfa Group continued to serve on the Company's board of directors. The Company maintains certain of its cash balances with Alfa Bank. In the period from January 1, 2011 through December 15, 2011, the Company maintained cash balances with Alfa Bank and placed deposits with maturities ranging from three to six months. In 2011, the Company declared and paid dividends to Alfa group in the amount of $6,328. Effective December 15, 2011, Alfa Group is no longer a related party to the Company.

        Telcrest—Telcrest Investments Limited, a Cypriot company ("Telcrest"), became one of the Company's principal stockholders in June 2011. The beneficial owners of Telcrest, including Bank Rossiya (which is not affiliated with Rossiya television channel), have investments in Russian media businesses, including indirect ownership interests in Channel One, REN-TV and TRK 5 and also have indirect significant minority interests in Video International. See also Note 2, Basis of presentation and summary of significant accounting policies "—Revenue Recognition" for description of arrangements with Video International. Telcrest became one of the Company's principal stockholders subsequent to the negotiation of its current principal agreements with Video International. As of December 31, 2012 and 2013, prepayments for acquisitions of programming rights from REN-TV amounted to nil and $2,460, respectively. In 2013, the Company declared and paid dividends to its stockholders (Note 14). Dividends declared and paid to Telcrest amounted to $26,102, $20,569 and $24,916 in 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively.

        Modern Times Group MTG AB ("MTG")—In October 2011, the Company signed a five-year exclusive agreement with a subsidiary of MTG to distribute the international version of the CTC channel ("CTC-International") through its satellite pay-TV platform, as well as on third party cable and IPTV networks in the Baltic territories. In 2011, 2012 and 2013, the amount of revenue from distribution was $265, $514 and $719, respectively. As of December 31, 2012 and 2013, the accounts receivable related to these transactions amounted to $67 and $208, respectively. In 2013, the Company declared and paid dividends to its stockholders (Note 14). Dividends declared and paid to MTG amounted to $49,207, $31,203 and $37,806 in 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively.