In October 1997, Hughes Space and Communications International Inc., now a part of Boeing Satellite Development Center, was awarded a contract for its first commercial satellite for Russia. The contract was awarded by BONUM-1, a subsidiary of Media Most, a Moscow-based private Russian media group that develops satellite television broadcasting services for Russia. BONUM-1 was the 53rd Hughes 376 to be ordered. It contains eight active Ku-band transponders, which, as a result of digital compression technology, provides up to 50 channels using 80-watt traveling-wave tube amplifiers. BONUM-1 serves European or West-Siberian parts of Russia, selectable on-orbit by ground command.