Switching channels
TV-6 staff to form new entity, seek license
At least 50 journalists from the web, many who left former rival NTV in April after political pressure brought management changes, agreed to join the new entity. It will keep the TV-6 name under Yevgeny Kiselyev, former topper at TV-6 and NTV.
Move follows a Fridaycourt verdict that made liquidation of TV-6 in its present form almost inevitable.
The station was fighting bankruptcy after Lukoil-Garant, a subsidiary of government-backed petroleum giant Lukoil and a 15% shareholder in the station, invoked a rarely used law demanding that a company close if its net assets are less than its founding capital. That law was struck from the statute books Jan. 1
TV-6 is openly critical of President Vladimir Putin, and many saw the court proceedings as politically motivated.
Late Monday night, the channel's acting managing director, Pavel Korchagin, sent an open letter to press minister Mikhail Lesin -- who will control the license auction -- requesting a temporary broadcasting license be issued to the new company, which could be up and running within a week.
Korchagin admitted Tuesday that he was effectively agreeing to a proposal made by Lesin in early December that would see controversial Russian businessman Boris Berezovsky, who owns 75% of TV-6, ousted from the channel.
Duck and cover
"When they are hitting you on the head with a crowbar, you have to take whatever defensive measures you can," Korchagin said. "This was the only measure that we could think of."
Lesin is believed to have ruled that Berezovsky and former NTV owner Vladimir Gusinsky should not be involved in or invest in the new company. He also has demanded that Kiselyev control less than 25%.
Lesin, speaking on an NTV program Monday, said the chances for the Kiselyev-led bid looked good. But with rival indie companies confirming interest in TV-6's frequencies, the question will be whether TV-6 staffers can trust the minister's intentions.
Berezovsky told leading Russian business daily Kommersant: "As regards negotiation between TV-6 staffers and Lesin, I absolutely do not believe any promises given by the latter. He has shown himself on many occasions to be a liar."
Politics aside, it also remains unclear where TV-6 staffers will find the backing for their bid.
