bTV Media Group EAD (Bulgaria)

bTV Media Group, former Balkan News Corporation (BNC), operates Bulgaria's first private national television channel bTV. bTV, a subsidiary of media company Central European Media Enterprises (CME), is the leading TV channel in the country with over 35% share of the TV audience. bTV Media Group operates several TV channels - bTV, bTV Comedy, bTV Cinema, bTV Action, bTV Lady, Ring BG, the following web sites - btv.bg, btvnovinite.bg, dalivali.bg, ladyzone.bg, zodia.bg and bTV radio, Radio N-Joy, Radio Melody, Z-Rock, Classic FM, Jazz FM and Jazz FM Lounge radio stations.
In December 1999, Bulgarian government chose Balkan News Corporation from seven candidates to run the country's first private nationwide television channel, Efir 2. Bulgaria had two state-owned nationwide channels at the time of the sale - Channel 1 and Efir 2. The government decided to transfer Efir 2 into private hands in a bid to cut subsidies and boost competition on the local broadcasting market. News Corp launched Bulgaria's first private national television channel called bTV in June 2000. In February 2010, Central European Media Enterprises (CME) acquired 100% stake of bTV. The acquisition is set at USD 400 million. CME is a leading TV operator in Central and Eastern Europe with operations in Croatia, the Czech Public, Slovakia, Slovenia and Romania.