Romanian Media Scandal Escalates

BUCHAREST: Sorin Alexandrescu, the CEO of Romania’s Antena TV Group, has been indicted for trying to blackmail a company manager into signing a contract with the station.

According to National Anticorruption Direction (DNA), Alexandrescu allegedly threatened to go public with compromising facts about the cable provider RCS & RDS, which Antena Group has been involved in price disputes with. The disagreements allegedly started over the two companies splitting the broadcast rights for the Romanian football championship.

Last year, RCS & RDS stopped carrying TV stations from the Antena Group on its satellite platform, citing that the company did not want to pay 5 million euros to have several channels broadcast.

In May, Alexandrescu was taken into custody after hearings at the DNA regarding the blackmail accusations. He has now been indicted for the charges.

Alexandrescu has released a statement saying the “so-called blackmail file…was orchestrated by false declarations meant to cover one of most serious corruption acts in the Romanian football.

“The indictment occurred after DNA openly refused my right to proper defense, acting unilaterally and discretionary in order to compromise the most important media group in Romania,” he continued. “The founder, the main shareholder and the prime companies of the group (TV Antena Group, Antena 3 SA and Intact Publishing) were also indicted.

“It is obvious that the way this case was handled allowed me and the other persons facing accusations no real means to defend ourselves.”

Alexandrescu added that once the case goes to court, “I urge those having preconceived perceptions and those who unjustly accused us to consult all the details of this case, especially the evidences’ validity. I assure all those who seek to discredit us, regardless of how they do it, that the force of our TV channels lies not in one person or another, but in the hundreds of professionals with a common belief and in the 10 million Romanians who watch us every day.

“I guarantee all those who stand beside us, either colleagues, business partners or viewers that this whole situation has only made us stronger and more determined to fight for the values we believe in for over 20 years.”