United Group says it rejects “false and misleading claims” that it is interfering in the editorial independence of its N1 and Nova TV channels in Serbia.
The Luxembourg-based group owned by international investment firm BC Partners has also denied reports that it is looking to sell the broadcasters to Telekom Srbija or “entities linked to the Serbian state”.
Last month, the Organised Crime and Reporting Project) OCCRP and its sister organisation in Serbia KRIK reported on conversations been United Group CEO Stan Miller and Vladimir Lučić, CEO of state-owned Telekom Srbija and a close ally of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.
One conversation involved plans to remove Aleksandra Subotić as chief executive of United Media, the United Group a subsidiary of that owns N1.
In a statement, United Group some concerns had been raised by Telekom Srbija about the conduct of Aleksandra Subotić. However, they made clear that he is not a member of any editorial team within United Group.
“News independence is sacrosanct to the current management and the majority shareholder BC Partners and will never be influenced by any political interference or considerations.
“Editorial choices for N1 and Nova are taken by the editorial teams, not by United Group executives, and there has been no interference by current management. This is clearly demonstrated by recent news reporting at N1 and Nova, which has continued in an entirely independent manner.”
The statement continued that the Group’s current management has never had any plans to sell its news assets and that the only discussions to have taken place involving the potential sale of N1 and Nova were held under the previous management.
In June United Group removed founder Dragan Šolak and CEO Victoriya Boklag from their roles.
