After Nova.rs reported that Telekom Serbia is on the brink of acquiring the “Kurir” newspaper and its publisher, “Mondo Inc.,” the company “Wireless Media Group,” the ultimate owner of the media outlet, has responded by stating they are unaware of any such plans. The recent amendments to Serbia’s laws on public information and electronic media, enacted in October 2023, have raised concerns within the professional community by potentially allowing Telekom to purchase media assets.
These regulatory changes came shortly after the expiration of a five-year period during which Telekom was restricted from acquiring a full share in Mondo Inc., which publishes “Kurir” and operates Kurir TV among other media assets.
Efforts by Nova.rs to obtain clarification from Telekom Serbia’s director, Vladimir Lučić, and the state-owned company’s official email, as well as inquiries to “Wireless Media Group,” which is wholly owned by Igor Žeželj, did not initially yield responses. Following publication, “Wireless Media Group” responded, stating they had no information on Telekom’s plans and suggesting that inquiries about Telekom’s strategy were misplaced.
Despite this, speculation remains that Telekom could take over “Kurir” through a debt-to-equity conversion process. In 2020, MP Marinika Tepić disclosed that Telekom had invested 38 million euros in “Wireless Media.” This investment led to significant restructuring in March 2024, when “Wireless Media” transferred assets, liabilities, and claims to newly formed entities, including “WMG Media,” which now holds the debts and potentially facilitates Telekom’s entry into media ownership.
The transfer of Mondo Inc.’s ownership to “WMG Media” on March 15, 2024, alongside the transfer of debts, indicates that Telekom might be positioned to acquire “Kurir” soon, though official confirmation from Telekom is still pending.
