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United Media, which includes H1 television, today informed representatives of the international community, European officials, organizations concerned with the protection of journalists and media freedoms, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps in Belgrade about the latest attempt by the The operator Telenor authorities suffocate the remaining free media in Serbia.
We transmit the letter in its entirety:
The freedom of the media is under attack in Serbia. The ruling system in the country is trying to establish control over all media and ensure its own survival through a continuous and vile campaign, using state resources to undermine one of the most important pillars of a democratic society: free media, independent and professional.
The international company United Media, which has more than 30 television channels in its portfolio and produces content that is broadcast in a market of 20 million people, has unfortunately experienced this in practice.
The latest attack on press freedom includes an agreement between the state company Telekom Srbija and the mobile operator Telenor, owned by the investment fund PPF. The two companies agreed that Telenor would have access to Telekom Srbija’s complete cable infrastructure, channels and content.
The Telekom Srbija documents, published in the media, show that the intention of this company is to destroy with this agreement SBB, a cable operator that operates within the United Group, as well as that the televisions that operate within United Media stop to transmit. suppress independent journalism.
1. Constant attacks by the authorities and Telekom Srbija on the free media
This agreement is just a continuation of the Serbian government-led campaign against media freedom, which has already resulted in the establishment of total editorial control over all televisions with national frequency. Telekom Srbija, whose leadership is closely linked to the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), plays a significant role in the ongoing attacks against independent media.
The state-owned company has repeatedly used huge funds to establish its dominance over cable channels by investing in infrastructure, content, and acquisitions of other operators. In addition, through Telecom, Serbian taxpayers’ money was transferred to the accounts of people close to the SNS, allowing them to buy or silence outlets that had a critical attitude towards the government.
It should be remembered that in 2018, Telekom Srbija bought the cable operator Copérnico for 195 million euros from the brother of a high official of the Serbian Progressive Party, who later, for almost the same amount, bought televisions with the national frequency PRVA. TV and O2, turning them into pro-government media. Just one year later, Telekom Srbija bought several smaller cable operators and Internet providers, including Radius Vector, at a price that experts say is significantly above their market value.
Last year, a member of the opposition Freedom and Justice Party revealed evidence of a 38 million euro deal between Telekom Srbija and Igor Zezelj, now the owner of the pro-government tabloid Kurir. Thus, through a non-transparent agreement, the state indirectly became the owner of the media, despite the legal obligation to dispose of the property, and millions of euros of Serbian citizens were spent on all this.
With the three new information channels that Telekom Srbija plans to launch by the end of the year, its public influence will be much greater.
National and international organizations have already expressed deep concern about the state of press freedom in Serbia. Last year, the European Center for Press and Media Freedom warned that television sets in Serbia were “used against the public.”
That is why it is even more important that these last voices of independent journalism are not silenced. SBB is the only Serbian operator that provides citizens with access to non-state controlled media. These include N1 television, which is CNN’s exclusive partner for this part of Europe, and NOVA S channel, both owned by United Media and part of the United Group.
SBB and the independent media have been targeted by Serbian authorities for years through attempts to stop business development, introduce bans on equipment installation, pursue various inspections, harass journalists or threaten their users. The government has even stopped other investments by SBB in expanding the network.
The ruling class openly attacks SBB and United Group in the media and does everything possible to restrict citizens’ access to the news and information they provide. Last year, around 300,000 households lost access to N1 television and other United Media channels because they were removed from the platforms of local operators that Telekom Srbija had purchased at the time.
2. The latest attack on free media involves an alliance between Telekom Srbija and Telenor, contrary to the rules of the free market.
In January, H1 journalists released official documents confirming the latest attack against SBB and United Media, an alliance between Telekom Srbija and Telenor.
At the heart of this plan is an agreement under which Telenor would gain access to Telekom Srbija’s infrastructure and cable channels. As a result, the Serbian market would be dominated by two large operators offering Internet, fixed and mobile phone services, as well as cable TV.
Telekom Srbija’s intention is to reduce SBB’s market share and prevent United Media from funding content, all to drive SBB out of the market and silence the remaining independent media in Serbia.
In response to the H1 reports, Telecom stated that its objective is to provide a competitive market. However, the true goal is clearly stated in the document that former Internet and multimedia coordinator and now Telekom director Vladimir Lucic presented to the Supervisory Board members: to destroy United Media channels.
Cooperation with Telenor is only one means to achieve that goal.
“This allows SBB to be expelled from this market, to make Telekom Srbija the number one stable in fixed internet retail, but also to generate significant revenue in the wholesale market in the future.” As for the content, that is. our television channels, as the use of our infrastructure involves the use of our content, it will allow complete mastery of our content in relation to United media channels. Therefore, the contract for the aforementioned service puts an end to the business of United Media as well as SBB in Serbia, ”reads the Telekom Srbija document published by N1 television.
With the agreement with Telenor, it is also suspicious that everything was agreed in secret, as well as the fact that the prices are not public. The possibility of cooperating with Telekom was not offered to other companies in the tender, which is certainly something that would encourage competition and would be in the best interest of the public, if that was the true intention of Telekom Srbija.
The competent body, the Commission for the Defense of Competition, must now decide whether to approve this agreement, and we fear that this will happen, without serious consideration. If that happens, the Serbian government will continue to implement its plan to destroy private enterprise and free media, all in the face of a new electoral cycle.
It is also debatable that the state-owned Telekom Srbija invests huge funds in the production of news programs, despite the law prohibiting the state from owning the media.
What Telekom Srbija is doing is a clear political move by the state-owned company to silence the media who ask questions, make the government uncomfortable and report on things that the government does not want to report on.
As a company operating in the European Union, United Media respects the strict rules that exist in the EU market, created to prevent such situations, which protect competition in the market and sanction restrictive agreements.
3. The Alliance of Telecom and Telenor will damage free media in Serbia
If this agreement is reached, it would be an unprecedented case, even in Serbia, and its implementation would harm society. It would mean that a state-owned company could merge with a private one to destroy free media, all in order to deny the public access to independent media, information sources.
N1 is the first regional news television based in Luxembourg with production centers in Belgrade, Sarajevo and Zagreb. The advisers to the Editorial Board of H1 are the most famous names in European journalism, including the former director of the BBC World Service, Peter Horox.
He said: “Independent research shows that H1 is the medium most trusted by citizens.” Any threat to destroy a company that supports H1 is a threat to truthful and impartial information and anyone who believes in freedom of the press. he must oppose it. “
Adrian Wells, advisor to the Editorial Committee and director of ENEX agency, says: “Viewers in Serbia should have the opportunity to decide which TV channels they want to watch, without hindrance or interference.” The cornerstone of free media is its ability to operate without the control and restrictions of the government or certain groups. “
International organizations such as Reporters Without Borders have previously warned of a worsening situation regarding press freedom in Serbia. In their annual report “Media Freedom Index for 2020”, they state: “After six years under the leadership of Aleksandar Vučić, first as Prime Minister and then as President, Serbia has become a country where often it is dangerous to be a journalist and where fake news is increasingly visible and popular ”.
This is something that we all witness very often.
Defending democratic principles demands that everything possible be done to protect the remaining independent media in Serbia. If Telekom Srbija carries out its plan, then the citizens of Serbia will not have access to free media, they will not have the opportunity to listen to anything except what the state operator allows them to hear.
That is why we ask all international institutions to react, to defend the right to freedom of information, which is guaranteed, but also to remind the Serbian authorities of European values and standards. It is also necessary to consistently implement the laws that are already valid in Serbia, and according to which it is impossible to implement this agreement.
The authorities must not be allowed to suppress and shut down free media.
With mail
Executive Director of United Media
Aleksandra subotic
