Final Word from Tuesday, January 20, 2004
PPF uses TV Nova and Euro magazine to support its own business interests. Sometimes it's very obvious, such as when Nova uses the airwaves to promote the elimination of advertising on Czech Television. Sometimes it's less obvious, such as when Euro runs articles about Electrocity, Poštovní spořitelna, Český Telecom, Sazka or Severočeské doly without making it clear that its owner, PPF, has direct business interests at stake. PPF is like an octopus that continues to grow tentacles. It's entering business after business - almost weekly, it seems - and there's no way to know where it will reach next. It's a potential competitor for almost everyone, and it plays hardball. Managers who advertise today on TV Nova or in Euro, or attend one of Euro's elite discussion groups, could inadvertently be supporting PPF's attempt tomorrow to put them out of business.