United Media

16. December 2019

N1 News, the leading provider of objective, uncensored TV news to countries in South East Europe, has bolstered its independent editorial oversight board with the appointment of two hugely experienced broadcast journalists, Peter Horrocks and Adrian Wells, in non-executive roles.

Headquartered in Luxembourg, and with production centres in Belgrade, Zagreb and Sarajevo, N1 broadcasts 24-hour international news and runs a web portal in English and local languages. Launched in 2014, the channel has exclusive content-sharing partnerships for the region with CNN, Reuters and ENEX. N1 and its parent company United Media, are part of United Group, leading multi-play telecoms, media and pay-TV group within South-East Europe.  

Peter Horrocks joins following a distinguished 33-year broadcasting career with the BBC, culminating in five years as Director of the BBC World Service. His other BBC roles included Head of Multimedia, Head of TV News and Head of BBC Current Affairs. He spent 10 years editing the BBC’s flagship news and current affairs programmes including Newsnight and Panorama and also oversaw the BBC’s general election coverage. Since leaving the BBC, he has served as Vice-Chancellor of the Open University from 2014 to 2018 and subsequently has since pursued a portfolio board career.  

Adrian Wells has, since 2014, been Managing Director of ENEX, a global co-operative of 57 broadcasters that is part of the RTL Media Group. He spent 27 years as a broadcast journalist with BBC News and Sky News, where his roles included Head of Foreign News, Launch Director for Sky News Arabia and Head of International Development for Sky. He has been permanently posted to roles in Brussels, Moscow, Jerusalem and Abu Dhabi.

 “We are excited that Peter and Adrian are joining us. Between them, they bring 60 years of experience of working at the frontline of global news production and distribution, in senior management roles with some of the world’s leading news organisations. They will play an important role in our strategic development. Moreover, they will also strengthen our independent editorial review process and public complaints procedures,” Aleksandra Subotić, CEO of United Media said.    

“I am delighted to be able to support the editorial development of N1 News. High media standards are critical to the countries in which N1 broadcasts. I look forward to contributing the vital role that N1 News plays in that,” Peter Horrocks said.  

“N1 is a news leader in their region and it is exciting to be associated with them, helping to advise their editorial board. The news industry is changing fast but the fundamental values that underpin good journalism stay the same. It is a pleasure to be working with a team that believe in those standards,” Adrian Wells said.  

Both Mr Horrocks and Mr Wells will commence their non-executive roles with N1 in January 2020.  

About United Group  

United Group is the leading telecoms and media provider in South-East Europe, providing a full range of services with a reach of over 1.8 million homes with broadband and telecoms services, and a further 4.9m pay-TV subscribers.  

Our business is unique. An original production, born in the Balkans and recognised throughout Europe. United Group has the broadest network coverage in the region and offers top broadband speeds and unrivalled programming, from original language hits to objective, uncensored news and world-class sports. It is also one of the biggest investors in the region, contributing over a billion euros to the local economy and employing more than 4,000 people.  

United Media, headquartered in Luxembourg, is a United Group operating company and the parent company of N1 news.