Russian antitrust nods Natl Media Group to buy Turner channels

MOSCOW, Mar 25 (PRIME) -- Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service has cleared Discovery Holdings, a unit of the National Media Group and Discovery Communications, to buy two thirds of local channels of Turner, according to the authority’s statement seen by PRIME on Friday.

The assets are Turner Children’s Programs, which distributes such channels as Boomerang and Cartoon Network in Russia, and Turner Information Programs and Lifestyle, which distributes the CNN channel.

The National Media Group is one Russia’s biggest private media holdings, which comprises assets of the market’s key segments.

The law, in force since January 1, bans foreign shareholders from owning more than 20% in Russian mass media’s capital.

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