World’s leading media group News Corporation expects to cash at least EUR 1bn from the planned sale of local media assets managed by Balkan News Corporation, according to speculations in the local media. The local portfolio of News Corporation includes Bulgaria ’s largest TV broadcaster bTV and several smaller TV channels in Bulgaria and neighbouring Serbia and Turkey . The management of bTV informed the local media regulator of possible changes in the shareholders’ structure about a month ago. Negotiations are held with several foreign entities, including strategic investors and private equity funds. The price expectations for the deal look realistic in comparison with the recent deals in the sector. The Swedish media company Modern Times Group (MTG) has signed a EUR 620mn deal for the full stake in Nova Televisia Bulgaria , owner of the country’s second largest TV channel Nova Televisa, and Central European Media Enterprises (CME) has acquired the nationally broadcasted TV2 channel and sports cable channel Ring TV for USD 172mn.