Na N1 there is a fear that the owner could sell that television and its sister Nova S, reveals the program director of N1 Igor Božić in the author's text for the new issue of "Vremena".
The owner of the two cable televisions is still the investment fund BC Partners, which recently replaced Dragan Šolak as the head of United Group.
Previously, the fund sold the cable operator SBB, as well as all rights to sports broadcasts to the state-owned Serbian Telekom.
"There are no direct strikes and open pressure yet, no one is tearing down the walls yet, but rumors are spreading," writes Božić.
He states that N1 is doing positively in Serbia and that it is the most watched on SBB, the network now controlled by Jetel. "It must also be clear to the new owners of SBB from Yettel that the users are with them solely because the difference in the market is made by N1 and Nova. So if we are talking about business reasons - the owners (BC partners) and those who broadcast our channels (Yettel), they can only benefit from having us," writes Božić.
And yet, as he states, the removal of Sholak laid the foundation for a potential crisis. "It's clear that for an investment fund, earnings are key and our key fear is whether we're going to be listed."
Still waiting for a response
"We are waiting for an answer from our owners, and this is of particular concern to us in Serbia because it is clear to everyone that the government of Aleksandar Vučić is determined to completely destroy us. That is why it is important for us to receive a clear confirmation that we are not for sale," Božić writes for "Vreme".
In the text, he takes a broader look at the media landscape in which Al Jazeera, Voice of America, and perhaps Free Europe are disappearing, donors for independent media are also withdrawing.
"It is important that N1 remains what it is. And it is not just about self-preservation. It is about public interest. That every day there is someone who asks, checks, insists."
**Read the entire text of Igor Božić in the new issue of "Vremena", which is on newsstands from Thursday (July 17) or **subscribe to the print or digital edition
