N1 Fears Plot to Outlaw its Work in Serbia

TV N1's news director in Serbia, Jugoslav Cosic, has warned that Serbia's Ministry of Culture and Information is preparing a media strategy that he says could eliminate the presence in the country of CNN's news channel affiliate in the region.

The ministry is drawing up plans "which would disable N1," Cosic told BIRN, adding that this is probably because its journalists unsettle the current regime, which "cannot accept the concept of even a relatively free media in Serbia".

N1 said that, according to its information, the Ministry is preparing a new media strategy and laws containing a proposal that cable distributors of television channels and their related entities cannot produce and own their own channels at the same time.

N1 is owned by Adria News, part of United Media, which is a member of United Group - the same as SBB, a cable television and broadband internet service provider in Serbia.

Cosic said the Ministry should make clear whether it backs such a plan or not. He added that, if necessary, N1 would ask EU media authorities to intervene.

A secretary in the Ministry, Nino Brajevic, told BIRN that Cosic's claims were absurd and the aim was not to eliminate any media outlets.

"Strategies are documents that determine the objectives for the development of certain areas. In the media field in Serbia, 'the elimination of media' is not and cannot be a development goal," Brajovic said.

Cosic also added that while N1 journalists were trying to work professionally and as best they can, officials have continued spreading falsehoods about the network and insulting them.

Launched in October 2014, N1 airs from Serbia, Croatia, and Bosnia, and has become known for its professional journalism and...