Nova: Changes in company Telekom Serbia wants to buy

The portal recalled recent speculation about Telekom’s alleged intention to buy businessman Igor Zezelj’s Adria Media Magazine which publishes the pro-regime tabloid Kurir and TV. It asked Zezelj’s Wireless Media Group for a comment about the possible takeover and was told that it has not knowledge of Telekom’s plans.

“We received your email with questions about Telekom plans. We believe you sent it to us in error because we can’t see any other explanation for the fact that you are asking us about Telekom plans. We have no insight into the plans of that company,” the reply said.

Zezelj owns a number of companies including Adria Media Magazine which Nova.rs says has been merged with his Mondo INC and deleted from the Business Registers Agency (APR).

Last year’s amendments to Serbia’s media laws allow Telekom Serbia to buy media outlets. Prior to the changes, the law did not allow state-owned companies to own media outlets.

The portal recalled that Wireless Media split its assets to three other companies – WMG Media (which owns Kurir), WMG Digital Transformation and WMG Product & Services. Those companies also took over Wireless Media debts (including to Telekom) and, Nova.rs said, those debts could be converted to ownership.

Nova.rs said it asked Telekom Serbia’s CEO Vladimir Lucic for a comment but got no reply.