Some politicians and businessmen own properties in mass media

By November 10, 2015, which is the deadline for submission of ownership transparency declarations, the Broadcasting Coordinating Council (BCC) received 88 such declarations, in which real owners of televisions and radios made public their properties in mass media. Some of them are politicians and businessmen.

The broadcasting regulator announced that it would publish the list of owners of Moldovan media structures next week. According to the BCC, 88 declarations were submitted on time, and 32 were delayed.

Information about owners of mass media has already appeared in the press. Thus, according to the declarations submitted to the BCC, businessman and politician Vladimir Plahotniuc is the owner of televisions Publika TV, Prime TV, Canal 2 and Canal 3. Radio stations Publika FM, MuzFM and Maestro FM also belong to him, as he holds 100% of shares.

The only owner of TV 7 is politician Chiril Lucinschi.

The official owner of Jurnal TV, according to its statement, is Victor Topa, who holds 100% of shares.
National 4 television included in its declaration to the BCC three owners: Alexandru Sarbu (80% of shares), Andrei Borsevici and Eugeniu Sarbu (10% of shares each).

The broadcasters’ management was obliged to publish this information on their websites, and it will also appear on the BCC website in the “Ownership transparency” section. According to BCC chairman Dinu Ciocan, the media structures that will fail to declare the names of their beneficial owners will be penalized.

It should be mentioned that over the past several years the issue of media ownership transparency has constantly been on the agenda of media organizations and in the sight of the civil society in general.

Photo source: agora.md