International entertainment group Viasat World is planning to launch a new over-the-top platform aimed at Russian-speaking communities outside Russia.

Speaking Oct. 12 at Digital TV Central and Eastern Europe in Budapest, CEO Irina Gofman said that the new direct-to-consumer service will be called TV1000 Russian Kino and will be offered to Russian expats in the U.K., Israel, Germany, France and the U.S. In Germany and the U.K., the service will be available via Amazon.com Inc.'s Amazon Channels.

Gofman expects TV1000 Russian Kino to attract around half a million users, pointing out that in London alone there are over 500,000 potential customers.

She also told the audience that Viasat World will launch a new premium drama channel later this year called Epic Drama, which will offer around 600 hours of drama.

The channel will be available in a range of Eastern European markets, including Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia and Romania.