Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07RIGA337
2007-05-11 13:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Riga
Cable title:
NEWS CORPORATION PURCHASES TWO TV STATIONS IN LATVIA
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHRA #0337 1311330 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 111330Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY RIGA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3996 INFO RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 0104 RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM 1077 RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
UNCLAS RIGA 000337
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EB/CBA BILL BEHRENS
STOCKHOLM AND BRUSSELS FOR FCS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD EINV BEXP LG
SUBJECT: NEWS CORPORATION PURCHASES TWO TV STATIONS IN LATVIA
UNCLAS RIGA 000337
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EB/CBA BILL BEHRENS
STOCKHOLM AND BRUSSELS FOR FCS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD EINV BEXP LG
SUBJECT: NEWS CORPORATION PURCHASES TWO TV STATIONS IN LATVIA
¶1. (SBU) On May 11, Ambassador Bailey met with three executives of
U.S.-based News Corporation to discuss the company's purchase this
week of two Latvian television stations. The company bought LNT (a
leading Latvian language station) and TV5 (a prominent
Russian-language station). During the meeting, News Corporation
described its plans to expand aggressively throughout Eastern Europe
and Turkey--describing current conditions as "something of a land
rush" for media properties in this part of the world. In addition
to meeting with Ambassador Bailey, News Corporation also paid a
courtesy call on Prime Minister Kalvitis as well. The company has
not yet gone public with this purchase, but plans to issue a press
release in the next couple of weeks.
BAILEY