Following the announcement of the sale of Adria News Network (ANN), N1 News Director Branislav Sovljanski said that the N1 editorial team will not permit any changes to its editorial policy or succumb to pressure from any side, adding that the station will “continue to ask questions of everyone, insist on answers” and strive for even greater professionalism.
International investment group Alpac Capital and Summer Parent S.a r.l., the ultimate shareholder of United Group (UG), confirmed on Friday that an agreement has been reached for the sale of Adria News S.a r.l, under which N1 operates.
“The most important thing for our audience and the general public to know is that the N1 editorial team will not allow any change in editorial policy or pressure from any side – and there has been a lot of pressure lately. We will simply not agree to that under any circumstances or conditions. I am aware that the public is concerned about the events surrounding the sale of Adria News Network media outlets, and there are reasons for that concern. However, it is also important to say, both for our audience and the public, that so far there has been no pressure on us to change our editorial policy, take specific actions… Nothing in our work has changed so far, and it will remain that way as long as this editorial team is here. That is what we can guarantee to our audience,” Sovljanski said.
He emphasized that N1 will continue to operate as it has for years, questioning government officials and all actors in political and social life while insisting on transparency.
A series of administrative steps to follow
Sovljanski noted that Friday’s announcement indicates several administrative steps lie ahead.
“Various types of licenses and approvals are required – from regulatory agencies as well as antitrust authorities. There are also ongoing legal proceedings initiated by minority owners within United Group… All these processes must reach a conclusion before we can speak of a definitive takeover. This is a process that will take time, we will follow it closely and remain transparent. Any information we receive from any side will be shared with our audience,” Sovljanski said.
The official announcement stated that Alpac Capital is committed, “as its ownership of Euronews reflects, to promoting neutral, fact-based journalism that upholds the highest editorial standards.”
When asked about the concept of “neutral journalism,” Sovljanski replied that N1 will continue its established approach: “to ask questions of everyone and insist on those answers, regardless of what anyone considers professional, objective, or neutral.”
“Of course, we must be objective, above all else. I don’t think we should be neutral to an excessive degree, but certainly professional and objective. What we must maintain is our commitment to the highest professional standards. That has defined us all these years, and that is what we and the N1 editorial team will insist upon in the future,” the N1 news director emphasized.
He added that “neither the television program nor the web portal’s content will be edited via social media, especially not by people hiding behind anonymous accounts. N1 is edited by professionals who respect codes of conduct and journalistic standards, and that will not change,” Sovljanski said.
Regarding the timeline for the takeover, Sovljanski noted the announcement mentioned the second half of 2026. “We are not personally acquainted with that, nor do I wish to comment on it – that is a matter for the owners, their agreements, and the shareholders involved. What depends on us is our job: journalism, the kind of journalism that N1 brought to this region and established as a standard. N1 has raised the bar for journalism, and we will strive to maintain that level, and perhaps be even more professional than we have been in the past. If we can improve, and I believe we can be even more professional, that is exactly what we will insist on and work toward,” Sovljanski concluded.
United Group (UG) minority shareholders Dragan Solak and Victoriya Boklag said on Friday that the decision to sell Adria News Network (ANN) independent regional media outlets is illegal and legally void. “We believe that both the manner in which the meeting was convened and the decisions reached are legally void. Additional legal proceedings will be initiated regarding these actions,” Solak and Boklag emphasized. They previously initiated legal proceedings against three entities controlled by BC Partners, with the aim to halt the sale of United Group’s media business, which they say is being carried out in violation of the Shareholders’ Agreement.
Source: N1
