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05-05-2010

Bobby Păunescu takes over Vox News

By Iulia Blaga
    Romanian businessman Bobby Păunescu has taken a controlling stake in Romania's Vox News.

    The Păunescu family media empire now includes several newspapers along with television stations B1 TV (www.b1tv.ro) and Vox News.

    Vox News received a broadcasting licence in August 2009 and began airing in November 2009. It will have an officially launch later this year.

    B1 TV was launched in December 2001, as a local TV station for Bucharest. News Corporation, founded by Rupert Murdoch, bought 12.5% of its shares in 2004.

    Păunescu is also the co-founder of the film production company Mandragora (www.mandragora.ro), which produced The Death of Mr. Lăzărescu and Aurora by Cristi Puiu, and the Palme d'Or short film winner Megatron by Marian Crişan. In 2009 Bobby Păunescu directed his first feature, Francesca. The latest film from Mandragora is Cristi Puiu's Aurora, whose world premiere will be in Cannes's Un Certain Regard.