United Group today announces a new governance framework for its news assets, delivering on its commitment to safeguard editorial independence and protect journalistic freedoms.

Under the new framework, news operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia will report into Adria News Network, with its own governance, a fully independent board and an Editorial Council composed of senior international media professionals. The Editorial Council will provide external oversight and guidance on editorial standards, ethics and best practice.

Adria News Network brings together a diversified portfolio of established and award-winning television, print and digital media outlets, including N1, Nova S, Vijesti and Danas. Operating for over a decade – 28 years in the case of Danas – these outlets serve a collective market of more than 16 million people and employ over 1,000 journalists and staff. News assets in Greece and Bulgaria do not sit within this structure.

Following extensive analysis of global best practice in governance, market conditions and long-term sustainability provided by world-class firms, this framework was identified as the most effective way to protect editorial independence in practice, while providing stability, transparency and resilience for the business.

Stan Miller, CEO of United Group, said:

“The introduction of a new governance framework and reporting lines under Adria News Network will strengthen and formalise editorial independence of the news assets. This ensures a future in which journalistic freedoms will continue to be protected and insulated from Group management, shareholder and external influence.”

Nikos Stathopoulos, Chairman of BC Partners Europe, United Group’s majority shareholder, said:

“We welcome and support these changes, which implement a clear and deliberate choice to safeguard editorial independence, while providing clarity for the business and its people. Protection of editorial integrity from external interference is embedded into the new governance of Adria News Network.”

Notes to editors

• To find out more about Adria News Network, visit https://adrianewsnetwork.com/
• Adria News Network is an independent news brand consolidating United Group’s award-winning news operations in selected Southeast European markets.
• ANN’s independent Board of Directors will include:
  • Rani R. Raad has more than 25 years of global media leadership experience. He spent over two decades at CNN and Warner Bros. Discovery, where he served as the President of CNN Commercial Worldwide. He later served as CEO of International Media Investments (IMI) and as President and Operating Partner of RedBird IMI.
  • Nigel Baker is a senior British journalist and media executive with extensive experience of editorial leadership and governance. He chairs the Sky News Board, which was set up to ensure the UK channel’s editorial independence. He has held senior roles at ITN, Associated Press and Reuters, bringing deep expertise in newsroom standards, regulatory engagement and public-interest journalism. He is also former chief executive of the Thomson Foundation which has supported independent journalism in more than 100 countries.
  • Brent Sadler is an award-winning British journalist and former Senior International Correspondent for CNN, where he also served as Beirut Bureau Chief. He previously worked as ITN’s Middle East Correspondent, reporting from across the region. A co-founder of N1 Television, he played a central role in establishing the network as a leading regional news broadcaster. As ANN’s Chief News Executive, he oversees editorial standards, newsroom leadership and the integrity of the network’s journalism.
  • Thomas Probst, Niall Martin and Kirenga Mbonampeka.
• Adria News Network Editorial Council will include:
  • Nigel Baker (see above).
  • Dr. May Chidiac – a Lebanese–French journalist, broadcaster and academic with over 25 years of experience in television and radio. She began her career in 1985 and became one of Lebanon’s leading prime-time political talk-show hosts. She holds a Ph.D. with High Distinction in Information and Communication Sciences from Université Panthéon-Assas (Paris II) and has served as Professor of Media at Notre Dame University since 1999. She also works as a consultant on media, communication and institutional development. An internationally recognised advocate for press freedom, she survived a targeted assassination attempt in 2005 and returned to broadcasting the following year. She is a recipient of UNESCO’s Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize and France’s Légion d’Honneur and is founder of the May Chidiac Foundation supporting media literacy and independent journalism.
  • Simon Bucks – Simon is a member of the UK Ofcom Content Board and is the Honorary Secretary and a Trustee of the Royal Television Society. He has previously held senior editorial roles at ITV, ITN and Sky News and was Chief Executive of BFBS, the British Forces Broadcasting Service.
• News operations in scope include:
  • BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA: Television N1
  • CROATIA: N1 Croatia
  • SERBIA: N1 Serbia, Nova S, Radar, Danas and Nova print and digital titles
  • MONTENEGRO: Television Vijesti, Vijesti Newspaper (Daily Press)
  • SLOVENIJA: N1 Slovenia
•  United Group remains a leading telecommunications and media company in the region, focused on portfolio management and value creation across its operating businesses.