• 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

Chris Dziadul Reports: Ukrainian media shock

July 15, 2022 11.34 Europe/London By Chris Dziadul

It’s not often you see a country’s richest individual relinquish control of one of its leading media groups.

And yet that is precisely what happened this week in Ukraine, when Rinat Akhmetov announced that his investment company SCM would effectively hand over Media Group Ukraine (MGU) and its other media assets to the state. This was certainly no act of charity, but, in Akhmetov’s own words, “dictated by the entry into force of the law On prevention of threats to national security associated with excessive influence of persons who have significant economic and political weight in public life (oligarchs)”.

Perhaps not surprisingly, Akhemetov denied that he was an oligarch. He also stressed that he was the largest private investor in Ukraine and criticised the six-month deadline set by the law for the sale of media assets as being too short.

Clearly Akhemetov felt it would make more sense to surrender MGU and his other media assets then sell them for an unrealistically low price. In the case of MGU, they include no fewer than four national TV channels – Ukraina, Ukraina 24, NLO TV and Indigo TV – as well as three thematic services (Futbol 1, 2 and 3), the DTH platform Xtra TV and OTT service Oll.TV.

What now happens to these assets remains to be seen. In the case of the four national TV channels, their future will in all likelihood be decided by the Ukrainian regulator National Council, quite possible through a licence competition. Given their popularity, this would undoubtedly attract strong interest.

The football channels, on the other hand, may not prove so attractive to any potential buyer as they are probably unprofitable, while Xtra TV and Oll.TV could possibly by acquired by any of Ukraine’s other leading media groups.

This is of course all speculation, and a clearer picture will emerge once the war is over.

For more information about Chris Dziadul, please visit https://www.chrisdziadul.com

  • 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: Chris Dziadul Reports, Columns, Featured Right Edited: 15 July 2022 11:34

Avatar photo

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

  • Vodafone Spain unveils Android TV decoder
  • MediaKind hires Ashish Patel and Tony Goncalves
  • Hayu to launch in New Zealand
  • Eutelsat joins London Stock Exchange after OneWeb merger
  • Stonepeak buys into Cellnex Nordics

Most Popular

  • FAST revenues to reach $17bn
    FAST revenues to reach $17bn
  • Viaplay and Formula 1 ink Netherlands deal
    Viaplay and Formula 1 ink Netherlands deal
  • Vodafone Spain unveils Android TV decoder
    Vodafone Spain unveils Android TV decoder
  • Polsat buys up Eleven Sports
    Polsat buys up Eleven Sports
  • Stonepeak buys into Cellnex Nordics
    Stonepeak buys into Cellnex Nordics

Columns

Avatar photo

Chris Dziadul Reports: Digi’s Spanish success

29 September 2023 By Chris Dziadul

Spain is becoming a hugely important market for Romanian-owned Digi Communications. … [Read More...]

View more columns

Free Ebook

Whitepaper: Why Wi-Fi 6 is Key for ISP Success

Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E client devices are entering the home in an unprecedented way, surpassing 50% market share since their introduction in 2019 (compared to four years for Wi-Fi 5). … [Download the eBook...]

Long Read

Dolby presents its Vision for pay-TV Operators

Facing challenges from all sides, pay-TV operators are in a struggle to maintain their dominance in the new world order of streaming services and smart TVs. Julian Clover speaks to Dolby’s Jason Power.

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 © 2023 Broadband TV News LLP · Log in

 

Loading Comments...