Michal Strnad to acquire Slovakia’s largest TV broadcaster, Markíza

Czech defense conglomerate CSG (Michal Strnad) is in talks to acquire Slovakia’s largest TV broadcaster, Markíza, from Czech group PPF (Renáta Kellnerová), sources told IntelliNews. Strnad, the wealthiest Czech national, has close ties to Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák (Smer). Some media have accused PPF of pressuring news programs to soften criticism of the government to protect its other Slovak assets, including SkyToll and O2. Slovakia is a key production base for Strnad, and the state is a major client. He previously paid Kaliňák for “legal environment analyses.”

(sme.sk)