• Subscribe
  • Advertise
    • Media Info
    • Terms & Conditions for Advertisers
    • Mechanical Data

Broadband TV News

Independent. Since 2003

  • Home
  • News Line
    • Central & East Europe
    • People
  • TV
    • On Demand/VOD
    • IPTV
    • Cable
    • Satellite
    • Terrestrial
    • Distribution
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Columns
    • Chris Dziadul
    • Julian Clover
    • Robert Briel
  • Events
    • Events Diary
    • BTN Events
    • Events Coverage
    • Submit the details of your event
  • Features
  • Resources
    • White Papers

US senator questions CME sale to PPF Group

February 27, 2020 12.02 Europe/London By Chris Dziadul

The US Republican senator Marco Rubio has called for a review of AT&T’s upcoming sale of Central European Media Enterprises (CME) to the Czech-owned PPF Group.

In a letter addressed to Steven T. Mnuchin, secretary, US Department of Justice, and William P. Barr, attorney general, US Department of Justice, he says that it should be looked at by the Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States (CFIUS) as it “undercuts US national security interests related to Central and Eastern Europe, as well as to China”.

He adds that as a subsidiary of a US company, he believes that CME qualifies as a “US company” and meets the criteria for a CFIUS evaluation.

Rubio goes on to say that PPF Group and its CEO Petr Kellner “have a record of acting as China’s proxies in the Czech Republic”. Around a third of PPF Group’s profits come from subsidiary Home Credit’s individual lending business in China. As a result, “Mr Kellner and his companies have supported China’s malign influences abroad”.

Senator Rubio accuses Home Credit of hiring a PR firm to manipulate Czech opinion. He also says that “it has come to my attention that PPF has already used its expected acquisition of CME’s Czech media outlets to intimidate Czech media and politicians into silence”.

As previously reported by Broadband TV News, last October PPF Group agreed to buy CME in a deal worth approximately $2.1 billion in cash.

CME is one of the largest and longest established commercial broadcasters in the CEE region, having launch its first station, TV Nova in the Czech Republic, in the early 1990s.

Broadband TV News notes that comments on the letter by Senator Rubio have also appeared in Digizone and Axios.

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: Central & East Europe, Top Story Tagged With: AT&T, China, CME, Czech Republic, PPF Group, US Edited: 27 February 2020 18:49

About Chris Dziadul

Chris is our Central & East Europe Editor. You can talk to Chris on Twitter @chrisdziadul or by email at cdziadul@broadbandtvnews.com

Latest News

  • Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games breaks BBC Sport streaming record
  • Warner Bros. Discovery: Hannes Heyelmann announces management team for GSA
  • Magyar Telekom gains TV subs
  • Serbia’s Yettel boosts sports offer
  • Viaplay facing Polish fine

Watch Video

24i on app development and viewer recommendations – ANGA COM Roundup Video

Julian Clover speaks to 24i's Sales Director Operator Solutions, Lennart Broers, about how apps are becoming more important to pay-TV operators, and the recent acquisition of recommendations company The Filter. … [Watch Now ...]

EKT backing RDK – ANGA COM Roundup Video

Jill Mulder, VP Marketing, EKT discusses how viewing habits and the role of the operator is changing and why EKT now backing RDK, with Broadband TV News editor Julian Clover. … [Watch Now ...]

Free Ebook

eBook: The Full Guide to IP Monitoring

IP is the future of your facility, if not already your everyday reality. It enables incredible agility and cost savings, but also introduces a new set of challenges. Read The Full Guide to IP Monitoring to learn about the best practices for IP monitoring in live production, playout and OTT and the methods to help you to reduce complexity in these workflows. … [Download the eBook...]

Broadband TV News

  • Subscribe
  • About us
  • Contacts
  • Logos & Pictures
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Advertising

  • Media Info
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Mechanical Data
  • Video Services

News

  • Latest
  • Central & East Europe
  • TV
  • Tech
  • Streaming
  • Cable
  • Satellite
  • Terrestrial
  • IPTV
  • Business
  • People

Events

  • Events Diary
  • BTN Events
  • Submit the details of your event
  • Media Meet & Greet

Broadband TV News

PO Box 499
Cambridge
United Kingdom
CB1 0AH
news@broadbandtvnews.com

Connect with Us

 

Copyright © 2022 Broadband TV News LLP · Log in

 

Loading Comments...