VGTRK is going to launch a new channel about science early next year.

In his interview with "Marker" the Deputy General Director of VGTRK Dmitry Mednikov, explained that the company is preparing a new educational TV channel on science and innovation. Working title - Science 2.0. According to Mednikov, the new channel is already "in full readiness for the start of work and wait the final approval of the Russian president" as Dmitry Medvedev was the first to support the idea of promoting innovations and technology on television at the meeting of the Commission on Modernization.

It is planed that Science 2.0 will be available on cable and satellite platforms and will target the audience of  25-54 years.  Initially there will be more foreign than local content, but by mid-2011 the share of owned and purchased content should match. The annual budget for the project is set to US$ 10 million.

If the final decision on the establishment of the project will be accepted at the end of the year, the launch could take place in February-March 2011.

Source : Marker.ru