National Media Group is a holding company that was formed in February 2008 through the merger of the media assets of OJSC AB ROSSIYA (54.96%), OJSC Severstal (19.49%), OJSC Surgutneftegaz (19.49%) and Sogas Insurance Group (6.06%). The group owns the REN TV and Petersburg–Channel 5 channels.

The group’s founders have merged their media assets to make them more competitive and manage the TV stations more efficiently. In the future, the group plans to expand its presence in the media sector.

On creating the group the founders were aware of the need to address a number of important social issues, such as promoting and preserving cultural values, educating young people, and ensuring efficiency channels of communication between society, business and government.

To achieve these aims the group has set up a supervisory body – the Public Council, which includes eminent Russian cultural figures, performers, politicians and businessmen. The Council’s elected Chairman is Alina Kabaeva, the Olympic champion and Deputy Chairman of the Youth Committee of the RF State Duma. The Council’s Deputy Chairmen are Daniil Dondurey and Lyubov Sovershaeva.

Lyubov Sovershaeva has been elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of National Media Group, and Sergey Fursenko has been appointed General Director.