BUSINESSWEEK ONLINE : SEPTEMBER 25, 2000 ISSUE
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS How the Kremlin Is Trying to Control Russian TV ORT The Kremlin has a 51% stake in the channel, which is watched by 99% of the population. Now, the Kremlin wants the other 49%, controlled by tycoon Boris Berezovsky. It may force Berezovsky out by calling for a review of the channel's privatization or pushing out managers and journalists close to him. MEDIA MOST The Kremlin arrested owner Vladimir Gusinsky for alleged embezzlement, then dropped charges. Now, it is gaining leverage through the media arm of state-controlled Gazprom, which owns 14.3% and is owed $211.6 million for a loan to the company. The Kremlin is pushing Gazprom to demand a controlling stake in lieu of payment. RTR Already 100% owned by the state, it is watched by 97% of the population. The channel doggedly follows the Kremlin line and has preferential access to big stories, such as the Kursk submarine disaster. DATA: BUSINESS WEEK _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _					RELATED ITEMS ``The Kremlin Is Making a Profound Mistake'' TABLE: How the Kremlin Is Trying to Control Russian TV INTERACT E-Mail to Business Week Online

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