👀 Experts provide insights into the Russian streaming market
The Russian online cinema market concluded 2025 with record revenues exceeding 200 billion rubles. Despite forecasts of stagnation, the industry maintains double-digit growth rates. However, experts warn that the "natural subscriber base" is reaching exhaustion while production costs continue to climb relentlessly.
Key trends and results of 2025
The Victory of the Paid Model. Over 96% of revenue is generated by subscription (SVOD), while the ad-supported model (AVOD) accounts for a negligible 4%.
The Era of Partnerships. Faced with budget deficits, platforms have moved away from head-on competition toward collaborative projects. Co-productions involving two or three major players have become the new industry norm.
The Documentary Boom. Demand for non-fiction content rose by a third. Platforms (for instance, through the Original + Doc festival) have begun actively using documentaries to bolster their scripted franchises.
The AI Revolution. The Start streaming service launched Russia’s first “neuro-comedy,” Feofan, in which all characters were created by artificial intelligence—marking a significant precedent for the market.
Leading platforms by viewership
Audience interest has shifted toward “therapeutic” content—light comedies and relatable “folk” stories that offer an escape from the negative news cycle.
| Platform | Most Popular Projects of 2025 |
| -------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Premier | Old School, Overheard in Rybinsk, Taganrog |
| Start | Likhie, Children of Change, Overheard in Rybinsk |
| Kion | One Call Bar, Life for Hire, Batya 2: Ded, Kidney |
| Wink | Fisher, Landyshi (Lily of the Valley), Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears (Reboot) |
Forecast for 2026
Experts agree that 2026 will be a period of transformation and industry “maturation.”
Price Hikes. The psychological barrier of 500 rubles for a monthly subscription is expected to be broken. Users have grown accustomed to paying, and platforms will pass rising production costs on to viewers.
Quality Over Quantity. The number of original projects will decrease, but their scale will increase as streaming services and TV channels pool their resources.
The Battle for the Finale. Producers will need to combat the trend of “failed finales,” where a brilliant season opening is undermined by a weak conclusion due to rushed production schedules.
The industry is entering a more “business-oriented” phase, where every ruble invested in content must be justified either by technological uniqueness (as with AI) or powerful partnership reach.
Source: Cableman
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