Telethons for UAH 860 million: who received the most public funds

8 February 06:21

In October 2024, the European Commission criticized the United News telethon, questioning its objectivity and the appropriateness of funding from the state budget. This issue becomes even more urgent if we take into account sociological data: according to a USAID-Internews study, although 86% of respondents know about the telethon, only 47% watch it, and only one third of them trust it. The Dozorro TI Ukraine project analyzed how much was paid for the “United News” in 2024, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports

How much was spent on telethons in 2024

According to the 007 search and analytical system, in 2024, more than UAH 860 million was spent on the production of the United News and FreeDom telethons, as well as on programs for Dom and The Gaze. This is less than in 2023, when the budget reached UAH 930 million, but much more than in 2022, when it was almost UAH 400 million.

According to the public BI Prozorro analytics module, in 2024, the State Enterprise “Multimedia Platform of Foreign Broadcasting of Ukraine” conducted 356 procurements with a total expected value of UAH 975.7 million. The current amount of contracts is slightly less – UAH 969.4 million. This amount refers to concluded contracts, not actual funds paid. The amount of these agreements includes not only orders for the production of marathons and programs, but also other services and purchases of various goods (clothing, furniture, jewelry, diesel fuel, services for the finalization of a documentary film).

At the same time, the State Enterprise “Parliamentary TV Channel “Rada” made 46 procurements with a total expected value of UAH 121.4 million. It concluded agreements for the same amount.

How much does the United News telethon cost?

In 2024, UAH 843 million was spent on the creation and broadcast of the United News and FreeDom telethons. Of this amount, UAH 699 million was spent on the production of United News, and UAH 144 million on FreeDom. In 2023, a total of UAH 842 million was spent on marathons.

Two customers bought the production of marathons:

SE “Parliamentary TV Channel “Rada” vs.
SE “Multimedia Platform of Foreign Broadcasting of Ukraine”, which is managed by the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy;

The following TV channels received orders for the production of telethons: “Inter, ICTV, 1 1, We Are Ukraine, and Kinokit LLC.

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The main recipients of budget funds:

“We Are Ukraine”

We Are Ukraine LLC received the largest amount of funds – UAH 190 million. The company was engaged in the creation and broadcasting of the United News #UAtogether telethon.

The LLC appeared in the telethon at the end of 2022 after Rinat Akhmetov’s News Group Ukraine surrendered its license to the state and part of its team moved to the new We Are Ukraine TV channel, which it allegedly created itself. The company’s beneficiary is Ihor Petrenko. According to Detector Media, he is the director of the internal policy department at the International Center for Policy Studies.

LLC “SLM News”

Almost UAH 190 million was transferred to Victor Pinchuk’s SLM News LLC (ICTV channel) for organizing both marathons. Of this amount, UAH 142 million was paid for United News #UAtogether and UAH 48 million for FreeDom.

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Inter TV channel

Inter TV Channel, owned by oligarch Dmytro Firtash, paid a little less – UAH 170 million. The company spent UAH 122 million on the production of “United News #UArazom” and UAH 48 million on “FreeDom”.

Studio 1 1 TV and Radio Company LLC and foreign company 1 1 Production

Another UAH 139 million was paid to Studio 1 1 TV and Radio Company LLC for the production and broadcast of the United News #UAtogether marathon, and UAH 48 million to 1 1 Production for the production of the FreeDom marathon.

According to the information provided by the company to the National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting in December 2024, the ultimate beneficial owner of Studio 1 1 LLC is Valeriy Kolomoisky. Other significant shareholders include Ihor Surkis and Kolomoisky’s longtime business partner Yuriy Kiperman. Oksana Marchenko also owns 8%. The foreign enterprise 1 1 Production is owned (75%) by the Cyprus-based company Caddoa Limited, which is listed as the owner of 1 1 Marathon (or Studio 1 1 TV andRadio Company LLC), as well as the group ‘s management and employees, including Yaroslav Pakholchuk, CEO of 1 1 Media Group.

Kinokit LLC

Among the participants of the United News telethon is the Rada Parliamentary TV Channel. However, the TV channel does not produce content for the marathon itself, but orders it from Kinokit LLC. In 2024, this cost UAH 105 million.

According to Bihus.Info journalists, the Kinokit company is associated with the former deputy head of the Presidential Office, Kyrylo Tymoshenko. Kyrylo Tymoshenko himself denied that “he or his associates receive funds for the production of television programs for the telethon.”