MUMBAI: MTV's sister niche channel Vh1 is to be launched in Russia and will beam into as many as 135,000 homes via cable and satellite platforms.

The Vh1 channel will become a free-to-air terrestrial service in early 2006, taking its reach to more than 1.5 million households.

The channel will feature a mix of local and international content, launching with the video for Blood Group by Russian band Kino, besides music videos and concerts.

The channel will also serve up popular Vh1 shows, news and specials from the US. By the end of next year, Vh1 Russia plans to produce its own programming.

The channel joins MTV Russia, which launched in 1998. The free-to-air service is seen in 29 million households in over 700 cities throughout Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Republic of Moldova and Russia.