NTV Responds   

Peter Baker's point of view on the so-called "demise of Russia's only independent television network" ("Blacked Out") is misguided and overlooks the real challenge of the future of a free press in Russia--whether an editorially independent and professional media outlet can be built and operated on sound financial footing. This is the only way to preserve the autonomy of a television network from the government, and it is precisely what I am trying to accomplish at NTV. It is NTV's former management that compromised its independence, leaving it vulnerable by its assumption of colossal debts coupled with an inability and unwillingness to repay them.
In running NTV as a business, we are also working to establish its independence. My new management team and I have begun the task of carrying out a proper audit of the company, the first in two years. We are streamlining operations and reducing out-of-control costs. My first undertaking was to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in outstanding employee salaries and debts to program producers. My second will be to raise more than $20 million to cover outstanding operating costs.
Any objective review of the news and commentary on the station in the period since the management change will show that there has been uncompromising journalism. The majority of key reporters and staff members have remained or returned, including all of the reporters who were part of NTV's Chechnya team.
While we welcome criticism, we ask that it be based on NTV's actual content and reporting, rather than rumor or speculation.