The programme directors of N1 in Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia have called for a management buyout of the regional news network from United Group.
They want to ring fence its editorial independence amid mounting concern over ownership and political influence.
In a joint statement issued on the 11th anniversary of the news channel, the editors proposed purchasing N1 from United Group “on market principles” with backing from “credible external investors”, stressing that the goal is not profit but “institutional and editorial protection” of the channels in line with best European practices. The plan envisages N1’s editorial leadership assuming governance responsibility to prevent any future “external political or business takeovers”.
The initiative comes against a backdrop of upheaval at United Group. Founder Dragan Šolak and long-time CEO Victoriya Boklag were ousted in June, triggering legal disputes and alarm from journalists and press freedom groups over potential pressure on flagship news brands N1 and Nova. Subsequent leaks, including an OCCRP-published recording of discussions between United Group’s new leadership and Telekom Srbija over changes at United Media, have fuelled fears of back-channel influence.
United Group publicly rejects claims it plans to sell or weaken its news outlets and reiterates that editorial independence is “non-negotiable”.
By floating a management buyout across all four N1 operations, editors are effectively testing whether United Group and its majority owner BC Partners are prepared to convert those assurances into a structural solution.
