Dnipro media holding "Vidkrytyi" closes down due to the war

Photo by "Vidkrytyi" on Facebook

Dnipro media holding "Vidkrytyi" is shutting down due to the impact of the war. The channel's owners decided to cease operations until Ukarine's victory in the Russo–Ukrainian war, reports the director Natalia Babachenko to Olha Vasylets, the Institute of Mass Information representative in Dnipro oblast.

"The main reason why we are stopping broadcasting is the consequences and impact of the war. Our owners decided to close down the TV channel until the victory. Now we are collecting the equipment, preserving all the devices with a thought to resume the channel's work after our victory," Natalia Babachenko said.

"Vidkrytyi" had a television broadcasting license, so now the channel is preparing a letter to the National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting, saying that they are ceasing broadcasting.

Earlier, the IMI reported that "Vidkrytyi" would run until October 31, 2024.

According to Natalia Babachenko, when they learned that the TV channel was closing down, they started looking for employment for one another and applying to the media outlets in the oblast. The team consists of 20 people. Some of the media professionals have already had job interviews with other outlets, says the director.

"Vidkrytyi" has been speaking since 2018. The media holding includes a TV channel, a website, and a press center. According to the ownership structure, the project has two ultimate beneficiaries, namely Serhiy Pavlovych Kasyanov and Mykhailo Anatoliyovych Koshliak. According to YouControl, Kasyanov is a founder or beneficiary of 47 companies. According to the Chesno Movement, he ran for the Verkhovna Rada in 2002 and 2006. According to YouControl data, Koshlyak is the CEO, founder, or beneficiary of 26 companies. He is also a deputy of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Council, according to the movement's website.