Local Station Programming Russian television channels on the national level, and increasingly, on the local level, obtain their programming from distributors and rights holders all over the world. On the national level, broadcast of pirated material has disappeared. Pirating continues in the regions, but the practice is diminishing. Purchasing foreign dramatic programs is cheaper than producing programming in Russia, and much programming of all kinds comes from outside Russia. Domestic production is concentrated in news and public information programming and game shows.
Many local stations produce their own news, information shows, and music programs.
Local production skills vary greatly from station to station. Russian television stations on the national, and increasingly, on the local level, can now obtain programming from any distributor or rights owner in the world. Not only do Russian distribution companies bring in a wide selection of foreign programs, but Russian television stations also go directly to international distribution companies and domestic rights owners to fulfill their programming needs. The change in scope in the Russian programming market is nothing short of astonishing. Only three or four years ago, even the national state-owned channels had big problems finding original quality programs, and regularly broadcast pirated western films with poor quality dubbing.