Ciner Broadcast Executive Board President Kenan Sönmez talked about investment plans to CNBC-E Business: 'We are going to change the newspaper concept in Turkey'

 What are the aims of Ciner Group in its new beginning?

Ciner Group was one of the two biggest media group in Turkey. I do not want to talk about the past but we have opened a new clean page here. Our target is to reach the top of media sector and Ciner Group has a significant experience in media. Now, Doğan Group is the leader in the media sector and we are going to balance the rivalry with Doğan Group in one or two years.

What are the ongoning and new plans?

Our group has two TV channels, an internet portal and 12 magazines. We are making printing house investments in İstanbul, Ankara, İzmir and Adana. We are going to start the assembly of printing machines in July and August because first we want to set our infrastructure. Our investments will change the newspaper concept in Turkey.

Are you going to establish a distributor company?

We do not want to be dependent on another firm and we do not want to use an outsource opportunity. Therefore, we are planning to establish a distribution firm in near future.

“WE WILL HAVE 20 MAGAZINES BY NEW YEAR”

What are situations for the magazines?

We will have 15 magazines by the end of june. I am assuming that we will have 20 magazines until the end of this year. We are going to invest on Kanal 1. We are aiming to be one of the four big TV channels.

“WE ARE GOING TO WORK WITH THE BRIGHTEST PEOPLE IN MEDIA”

What is your investment budget?

I do not want to give an exact number but we are making significant investments. We want to work with the most successful people in this sector. We have 800 people working now and this number is increasing day by day.

Are you planning to work with a foreign partner?

Actually no. Although we received some offers, we do not want to enter in foreign partnership.