Alexander Akopov says producers should represent viewers in the creative process

The former STS chief described the producer’s role as balancing a project’s creative ambitions with what audiences want, and recounted his route from construction work and KVN to television and his own business.

Producer Alexander Akopov, founder of COSMOS Studio and Amediateka, said creators’ desire for self-expression can conflict with audience expectations. In a Radio RBC interview, he described a producer as the viewer’s representative during a project’s development and on set.

Before moving into television, Akopov worked as a construction foreman, pursued postgraduate studies, taught and took part in KVN. He said a turning point came after the 1986 KVN season, when Eduard Sagalaev first invited him to develop a concept for the next season and then offered him a move into television. Akopov said his father feared the path would lead to a disaster in his life.

Akopov later headed the Rossiya television channel and left about five years later to start his own business. He said he used personal funds, borrowed from friends, pledged property and obtained a loan from Rosbank to launch the project. By his account, those sources helped him assemble his first $6 million.

Akopov called his readiness not to delay decisions the main rule of his life. His advice to younger managers was to be unafraid.