Americans to buy TV station Avala?

(TV station Avala in Comtrade’s building)

According to the unofficial information, the Head of the Administrative Board of TV station ”Avala“, Danko Đunić, is negotiating about sale of that TV station to American CME group (Central European Media Enterprises Ltd.), and the amount of 15m EUR is mentioned.

The negotiator on American behalf is the Manager of Maribor-based ”Pro plus“, Marijan Jurenec. Unofficially, the owner of TV station “Pink”, Željko Mitrović, has participated in previous negotiations.

The owner of CME Group is Ronald Lauder, and this group has significant presence in the region. This group is the owner of POP TV and A channel in Slovenia and “Nova TV” in Croatia, for which they paid 20m USD. ”Nova TV“ is also very popular in BiH and it has established great cooperation with OBN TV. Unofficially, Željko Mitrović was interested in this Croatian TV station and, allegedly, he was ready to pay 30m EUR for it. CME is also present in Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania and Ukraine.

”Avala“ is one of five TV stations with national frequency and its program is watched by 3% of the viewers in Serbia. TV station "Avala" was founded by 8 founders. Danko Đunić owns 48% (1.1m EUR) of the TV station, and it is followed by “Tehno-progres“ with 32% and “Medija plus“ with 15% ownership.