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

Tags:  ETRD EINV BEXP LG 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
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