Final Word from Wednesday, January 12, 2005
When CME announced the repurchase of TV Nova, some commentators predicted that Ronald Lauder would use the station to take revenge on ODS (which allegedly helped relieve him of the station in the first place). Jaroslav Plesl of LN suggested that TV Nova might start backing Jan Kasl's European Democrats as a way to weaken ODS. Miroslav Macek of ODS predicted that Nova would turn against Václav Klaus and start giving Stanislav Gross better treatment. It's only been a month, and the CME deal still isn't sealed, but there are few signs that Nova is doing Gross any favors. It was tough on him (but fair) in reporting last night on his use of a special police unit as his personal posse. Gross has found a second wind this year and is trying to rejuvenate ČSSD, but his political ideas remain unfocused. It'd be bad business for CME to bet its future on him. [Czech Republic Central European Media Enterprises CETV PPF ED Lidové noviny]