At the first Russian virtual content market, Key Buyers Event: Digital Edition, held from 8 to 15 June, Sovtelexport finalized a new deal on licensing "Ekaterina: Pretenders", a fresh season of the grand period drama. The rights were acquired by a Japanese channel TV Channel Ginga.

The first two seasons of "Ekaterina" were successfully broadcasted on the channel in 2018. The same year, TV Channel Ginga achieved the 8th best original programming award for the programming of period drama series, such as from Russia, Turkey and Spain.