The businessman Silviu Prigoană had several businesses throughout his life, being, among others, the founder of the television stations Realitatea TV, Etno TV and Taraf TV.
Reality TV was launched 25 years ago by Silviu Prigoană
He declared in 2019 in an interview for Ziarististi.ro that he had founded more than 70 companies.
In 2001, Prigoană launched Realitatea TV, the first news television in Romania, a station that featured people known in the industry at the moment: Mihai Gâdea, Mădălin Ionescu, Sanda Nicola, Cătălin Striblea, notes Pagina de Media.
“I must remember that there were six shareholders. I was the majority shareholder, there was Mircea Dinescu – who had 5%, Paul Ifrimache, Eugen Progloff – with 10%, Mihalache Dumitru and Minea George. We were the shareholders of the Realitatea station“, declared Prigoană in 2011 for Pagina de Media.
The businessman explained in 2020 why he sold the Realitatea TV station for $100 on the show “40 questions” made by Denise Rifai.
“It cost 7 million (dollars, no) and 7 million cost maintenance for two years (…) and we sold it following the decision of the Board of Directors. I explained to you that Bluelink Comunicazioni from Switzerland withdrew from the business. The company meanwhile had some financial problems, I sold it for 100 dollars. It’s all the documents. And as a surprise for you, I didn’t sell it to Sorin Ovidiu Vântu. (…) I also had some discussions with Sorin Ovidiu Vântu“, said Prigoana.
Asked to whom he sold the news television, the businessman said “to a Mr. Mărgineanu”.
“Mr. Mărgineanu who bought it, who was, I understood, among others, the representative of Bluelink Comunicazioni from Switzerland, would later sell it not to Vântu personally, but to Petromservice, a company. (…) And Petromservice borrowed some money from Sorin Ovidiu Vântu and engaged the shares. They did not return the money and Sorin Ovidiu Vântu took possession of the shares. So the story is a bit more complicated“, explained Prigoană.
He said he framed the hundred dollar bill he received in exchange for the television and that no one forced him to do the transaction.
“Because it was a business that could not be maintained. I was at a loss at the time“, said Prigoană.
Silviu Prigoană said in the 2011 interview for Pagina de Media that after three years he sold the station “because Reality was never profitable and for me it was a black hole, I had to support myself from other activities the television“.
