Political analyst Andjelko Milardovic appeared on Tuesday on N1’s Live Studio programme, speaking of the situation surrounding N1 TV and media freedom in the country.

Earlier this month, cable provider A1 announced they would stop airing channels owned by United Media, including Sport Klub and the news channel N1, on March 29, since the negotiations to extend the contract between the two companies had fallen through. A1 holds a 30 percent share of the market in Croatia.

“When reading about this topic, one can conclude there’s a requiem being prepared for N1,” Milardovic said. “I don’t want that to happen.”

The problem has two levels, he added, one being the relationship between two corporations, and the other the media with its value.

“When we’re talking about regulation, the state must take into account that every player on the market has equal rights. It must be careful not to allow the concentration of ownership in the media market, noting that media are not just means of communication, but ownership as well. There are corporations, owners, the state, and the people or viewers. That triangle must be constructed in a way that it’s functional and fair,” he said. “I refuse to accept a requiem for N1 and I stand for media pluralism.

“N1 is a channel that offers space for everyone. This is the exact approach the public broadcaster should have,” he concluded.