United Group Denies Allegations of Compromising Editorial Independence, Affirms Commitment to N1 and Nova in Serbia
Luxembourg – United Group has vehemently denied claims suggesting it intends to undermine the editorial independence of N1 and Nova TV channels in Serbia or sell them to state-linked entities. The company categorically refutes these allegations, emphasizing its unwavering commitment to journalistic integrity and operational transparency. United Group underscores that its news operations maintain a strict separation between commercial management and editorial decision-making, with editorial choices resting solely with the news teams, not company executives. This commitment to independence is paramount to both current management and majority shareholder BC Partners, and the company categorically rejects any form of political interference.
United Group, driven by a focus on value creation through ethical business practices, asserts that recent news coverage by N1 and Nova stands as a testament to their continued independent operation. The company acknowledges concerns regarding Aleksandra Subotić, who is not a member of the editorial staff at any United Group news organization, and confirms ongoing investigations into these matters. United Group is actively working to further solidify the editorial independence of N1 and Nova, exploring measures like enhanced editorial charters, non-interference covenants, independent oversight at the channel level, and an external ombudsperson function. Two international advisors have been engaged to assist in this process.
Contrary to speculations, United Group’s current management has never entertained plans to sell its news assets to Telekom Srbija or any state-affiliated entity. The company clarifies that any past discussions regarding the potential sale of N1 and Nova occurred under previous management and are not aligned with the current strategy of safeguarding independence and enhancing performance across its portfolio companies. United Group attributes recent media speculation to an ongoing shareholder dispute, asserting that allegations of altering news asset structures or selling Serbian businesses originate from the former founder and minority shareholder, Dragan Šolak, and his associate, Vladislav Ratajac.
Documented correspondence from January 2025 reveals that Šolak and Ratajac approached Telekom Srbija with proposals to take N1 and Nova off Serbian television for a substantial sum, transitioning them to internet-only platforms. They also proposed selling the Serbian news assets to a third party and other Serbian businesses, such as Shoppster and D Express, to Telekom Srbija. These proposals, coupled with Šolak’s demand for a significant bonus for purportedly facilitating the sale of United Group’s Serbian businesses, were not adopted by the current management and do not reflect their strategy for the news business in Serbia. It appears the editorial staff of N1 and Nova were unaware of these actions.
United Group reiterates its commitment to independent journalism, stressing that editorial decisions rest solely with the newsrooms and that current management and BC Partners have not interfered with the editorial content of its news outlets. The company disavows any plans to sell N1 or Nova to Telekom Srbija or any other entity, emphasizing that any contrary reporting is false. United Group calls into question the motives behind these narratives and reaffirms its focus on operational discipline, strong governance, and clear accountability.
The company underlines its zero tolerance for interference with editorial independence, political interference, or threats against its journalistic staff and employees. Highlighting its strong financial performance, with revenue and EBITDA growth in the first half of 2025, United Group remains focused on its core businesses in telecommunications, media, technology, and cloud services across its EU markets. The company’s recent leadership change was implemented to enhance value creation and governance following the sale of a significant portion of its Serbian business and ahead of a potential divestment in Bosnia and Herzegovina.