WRAP Update on NTV protest

(4 Apr 2001)
1. Zoom into the crowd gathered outside Ostankino TV center
2. People waving and shouting Kiselyov
3. NTV flag waving from NTV office
4. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Boris Birukov. "I am concerned about freedom and about the future of my children. I am surprised how our people could elect such a president. It is a great pity."
5. Current NTV Director General, Yevgeni Kiselyov
6. Man holding balloon with NTV logo on it.
7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Yevgeni Kiselyov. "I am not inclined to discuss anything with Gazprom today"
8. NTV graphics saying NTV journalists protest against the capture of TV company
9. NTV daily news graphics
10. NTV daily news anchor
11. NTV Master Control Room
12. NTV programme editor
13. NTV lobby full with journalists
14. Yevgeni Kiselyov talks to policeman
15. Boris Jordan, NTV Director General appointed by Gazprom, talking to press
16. Cutaway of media
17. SOUNDBITE: (English) Boris Jordan. "I was watching the situation on NTV for several months. I understood the conflict was worsening. I also understood that if someone did not step in trying to mediate between the shareholders, someone did not step in who can guarantee the freedom of the press, this company sooner or later would be taken over and will be questionable as to what the future will be."
18. Gorbachev Fund press hall
19.SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Mikhail Gorbachev. "I think that in the current situation, the President has to act in accordance with his position, and as he has been always insisting during the private conversations and publicly that he supports the freedom of press, he has to act and I am sure about that"
20. NTV flag
21. People gathered outside Ostankino TV center
22. Policemen
23. Crowd shouting outside NTV
24. NTV flag with TV tower in the background
STORYLINE:
Tired and defiant journalists at Russia's only independent nationwide television network canceled entertainment programming Wednesday to protest a takeover move widely seen as a Kremlin attempt to bring NTV to heel.
The rebellion came after state run gas giant Gazprom purged NTV of its leadership Tuesday.
Gazprom, which holds 46 percent of the shares in NTV, teamed up with a small, US-based company to amass just over half the shares and vote through the sweeping changes.
Gazprom's move to take over NTV came as U-S media mogul Ted Turner reportedly agreed in principle to purchase NTV founder Vladimir Gusinsky's shares in the network, although it would only be a minority share.
Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev - the head of an advisory committee to NTV - signaled his approval, telling a news conference that while he would like NTV to remain a Russian channel, the Turner move is "not the worst option."
Gazprom representatives tried to justify the takeover in financial terms, saying the company had been hemorrhaging money and would never be able to make good on its loans.
NTV had $70 million in losses and $127 million in debts, they said.
However, the move was viewed as a Kremlin attempt to harness the network, which is known for enterprising and often-critical reporting on an array of problems ranging from the wars in Chechnya to the deterioration of social services and infrastructure.
NTV journalists accused President Vladimir Putin of being behind the takeover, though he has not spoken publicly on the dispute.
The Paris-based press advocacy group Reporters Without Borders and the European Union condemned the takeover, as did prominent politicians, including Gorbachev.
Find out more about AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: / ap_archive
Facebook: / aparchives ​​
Instagram: / apnews
You can license this story through AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...