In the December of 2009 Government of Russia approved Special Program for Developing Television and Radio in 2009-2015. The aim of the program in question is to switch the analog TV onto the digital format. The process of establishing digital television is expected to be performed in 4 stages with a priority on the frontier areas. Stavropol Krai belongs to the 3^rd stage (2011-2015). Digital TV coverage in Stavropol Krai is to be 97.6%. When the digital network is finished Stavropolities will be able to watch the first package of the TV-channels of common access – 1^st Channel; Russia-1; NTV; Russia-2; Russia Culture; Russia-24; Child Channel Carousel, as well as one regional channel to be selected based on a contest by Ministry for Mass Communication of Russia. Besides, the first package of channels will include programs broadcast by the Public TV. By the year 2015 the list of the commonly accessed free digital channels will include no fewer than 50 of them.

The Stavropol Regional Broadcasting Center employs over 150 TV and radio transmitters of all ranges and frequencies. The Center uses 12 radio relay links with a total length of 1,163.4 km.

Service Coverage for Television and Radio

TV company Russia – 98.4%

TV company 1^st Channel – 97%

NTV – 53%

Culture – 54%

Radio of Russia – 84%

In the outskirts of Stavropol (Village of Grushovy) there is a broadcasting station (Stavropol RTPS) with one of the tallest masts in the North Caucasus (350 m).

The Stavropol Regional Broadcasting Center includes a unique object – Pyatigorsk broadcasting station, which is located on the top of Mount Mashuk.