RSF concerned over Telekom – Telenor deal in Serbia

telekom telenor
Izvor: N1

Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) said on Thursday their organisation worried that Serbia-owned Telekom and the private mobile operator Telenor owned by PPF Investment Fund deal could harm media pluralism and increase the existing state influence in the media sphere.

Pavol Salaj, the RSF representative for the Western Balkans, told Radio Free Europe (RFE) his organisation was closely following the case and gathering information.

„There is a risk that Telekom – Telenor agreement could prevent the cable SBB operator from reaching a wider audience,“ he said.

Salaj added that the United Group’s media N1, Nova S and NewsMax Adria provide the public with information that could not be heard in the state-controlled outlets.

„Serbia’s authorities haven’t done much to increase media pluralism in the country,“ Salaj said.