CS Media is the world’s largest Armenian media company. Its two main offices are located in Yerevan, Armenia, and in Burbank, California. CS Media holdings include “Armenia TV” – the largest and most-watched TV network in Armenia; “ArmNews,” the only 24-hour-a-day Armenian news network; “TV5,” one of the top five networks in Armenia in terms of ratings; “Channel One,” which broadcasts the CNN signal in Armenia; the “107 FM” radio station; the “CS Records” recording and producing company; the “Armenia Film Studios” company; and “CS Publishing House,” which publishes the best-selling TV Mol color weekly, the monthly magazines Yes and Nane, and other periodicals; the “ArmenFilm” company, which at 80, is Armenia’s oldest movie company, holds thousands of films in its archive, and a giant lot and film studios; “AUp,” Armenia’s pay channel; “CS Media Enterprises,” in the United States, which publishes the Armenian Reporter newsweekly; “USATV” in the United States, which broadcasts the popular USArmenia TV network throughout the United States and administers the usatv.com global Internet portal project in the U.S. and international markets.

CS Media’s main location in Armenia is its own “CS Media City” in the center of Yerevan. The 400,000-square-foot facility includes more than 150,000 square feet of offices, studios, and production facilities. The U.S. office is located in the media district of Burbank, in a 40,000-square-foot site neighboring NBC, ABC, and the Walt Disney Company.


Now some details about each network.

Armenia TV Armenia TV is Armenia’s leading television network, broadcast internationally via satellite stations, local cable networks, and online broadcasting. Its overall rating for 2008 was 21 percent of market share. Armenia TV was the first network to produce miniseries in the history of Armenian TV. The ratings are record breaking. Dzhpakhd Yerchangutiun was the first miniseries in Armenia, and featured well-known film and stage actors. It is filmed in the high-definition format; episodes have been produced and broadcast to date. On prime time, Armenia TV broadcasts Gyanki Kine, which commands a 50 percent market share. With three successful seasons behind it, the program is preparing for its next season. The martial miniseries Vrizharu was also the first in the history of Armenian television to engage famous actors in a compelling crime story with complex cinematography and special effects. In the wake of the phenomenal success of the first season, the second season is being filmed in Armenia and the United States. Chagadakri Kerinere is a complicated psychodrama. With three seasons behind it, a new season is in production. The horror series 11, the first of its kind, is aimed at a teenage audience. A group of 11 boys and girls find themselves in a cottage on a mountaintop. There is no escape. One by one, they meet their deaths. The tense subject and its terrifying scenes make the series especially interesting. The historical miniseries Aryunod Sultan is about World War I; it tells the story of Turkey in the years leading to the Armenian Genocide, and covers the deposing of the sultan. The sitcom Yerevan also breaks new ground. A professional group of comedy actors present funny stories about Yerevan and its residents. To greet 2009, Armenia TV filmed the movie New Year, which was the best show of New Year’s Eve.

ArmNews, the only 24-hour-a-day Armenian news network, is broadcast in Armenia and by satellite outside Armenia. ArmNews, drawing on hundreds of reporters and news bureaus, including the EuroNews network, to present news from Armenia, Armenian communities in various countries, and important international news. It also broadcasts the Russian version of EuroNews in Armenia. ArmNews bureaus operate in Moscow, Paris, Cyprus, New York, Washington, and Los Angles. The network broadcasts its own numerous talk shows, reports, reviews, and more. News on Armenia, Armenian affairs, and Armenians in the Middle East, Russia, or the United States is broadcast by ArmNews immediately.

TV5 is CS Media’s second mainstream TV network in Armenia, represented abroad by the Pan Armenia Television Network. It too is among the leading television networks in Armenia. It broadcasts many of its own reports, shows, films and serials, news and other TV programs. The crime series Pakhusd Pantits is one the most popular shows on TV5. It tells about the terrible events that take place in prisons of Armenia. Tesangiun is a talk show hosted by Gevork Altunyan, a well-known commentator. TV5 News is known for being on the scene quickly and broadcasting live as events unfold. Love Eli is a game show for a young audience. It’s about how young people fall in love with each other. The morning show Pari Luys is hosted by well-known comics. Every morning they spread good cheer live TV5’s Studio 3. Commentator Rafik Hovhanissyan hosts Pasdoren, a weekly roundup of news and events. It is Armenia’s most influential weekend news show. The comedy series Harevanner is about neighbors living in Yerevan who are more than neighbors. They are a big family where the most scandalous and comic events happen among the most emotional people. Another show, based on Big Brother, called Alfredi Senyagum, is reality TV and one of TV5’s most popular shows. A group of 16 young boys and girls are gathered and live in Mr. Alfred’s space. Mr. Alfred is a dominating man. No one has met him. He owns the game. He decides how these 16 people should spend their time. He is sometimes very cruel. He has a scary voice. He can remove anyone from the game; only the audience can save them. Autoshow, Mer Lezun, Mer Khoske, Lrakroghagan hedaknutyun, and other popular programs also air on TV5.

CS Records is the best-equipped recording studio in Armenia and the region. It also serves as the musical label for some of Armenia’s most popular musicians, singers, and composers. The copyrights of their works belong to CS Records. Based on this, CS Records is offering Armenia Music Television for the first time in the world in 2009. This channel, along with the Armenia Film Channel, will be considered premium pay channels in the international pay-channel broadcasting system.

CS Publishing House and CS Media Enterprises represent the print aspect of CS Media. TV Mol and the English-language Armenian Reporter, both weeklies in color, are among the Armenian periodicals with the highest distribution in Armenia and the United States. The website reporter.am expands the reach of the Armenian Reporter worldwide.

These and some other companies together are called CS Media. The most profitable media company in Armenia in 2008, a U.S.-Armenia partnership with a Western management style, it presents the best content and garners the highest ratings.