Maincast, an eSports company owned by Maksym Krippa, is launching two brand new channels—Maincast Sport and Maincast—designed for OTT platforms and cable networks. The launch date is scheduled for November 30, 2024, as reported during the November 7, 2024, meeting of the National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting.

Key Details

• Maincast: Aimed at entertainment, this channel will provide engaging video content, in Ukrainian as well, and operate 24/7 through OTT and IPTV technologies.
• Maincast.TV: Alongside these channels, the company is also launching a dedicated sports OTT platform to further enhance its digital presence.
• Maincast Sport: This channel will focus on sports, showcasing international championships and other sports events featuring Ukrainian athletes, all delivered in the Ukrainian language.

Co-founder Vitaliy Volochai explained in an interview that the primary goal is to develop and spread Ukrainian-language broadcasts. 

“We’re doubling down on investments and efforts to develop these broadcasts. Initially, our focus is on audience growth before introducing premium paywall content,” Volochai shared.

Maincast’s vision for the channels extends beyond Ukrainian broadcasts. 

“We are also considering adding Polish-language content in the future,” said Volochai. For the first year, the priority is not profitability but audience expansion, laying the groundwork for monetization through premium content later.

Background on Maincast

Founded in 2018 by Vitaliy Volochai and Andriy Hryhoriev, former stakeholders in RuHub, Maincast started with an $800,000 investment to establish its studio segment. Early funding came from venture investor Maksym Krippa, who has remained pivotal to the company’s growth.

In 2022, Maincast cut ties with Russian sponsors following geopolitical tensions, instead focusing on Ukrainian-language esports broadcasts. This shift, combined with growing demand for local-language streams, helped the channel secure a spot among the top three for CS viewership.

By branching into sports and entertainment channels, Maincast aims to build on its success, attracting broader audiences while elevating the profile of Ukrainian-language media on the global stage.