{{Update|date=November 2017}}
The '''ANS Group of Companies''' is a news and broadcasting company in Azerbaijan.<ref name="hrw">{{cite web | url = http://www.humanrightshouse.org/dllvis5_print.asp?id=4959 | title = Human Right House | accessdate = 2008-07-22 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="rfe">{{cite web | url = https://www.rferl.org/a/1073092.html | title= Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty | access-date=2008-07-22 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080907042808/http://www.rferl.org/content/Article/1073092.html| archive-date=September 7, 2008<!--DASHBot-->| url-status=live}}</ref>
It was founded by three young Azeri journalists, brothers Vahid and Seyfulla Mustafayev in 1990. The Company name, ANS, derives from the first letters of ''Azerbaijan News Service''. ANS was the first privately owned company in the former Soviet Union.<ref name="undp">{{cite web |url = http://www.un-az.org/undp/bulnews44/m5new.php#First_FM_radio_station |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110724211537/http://www.un-az.org/undp/bulnews44/m5new.php#First_FM_radio_station |url-status=dead |archive-date = 2011-07-24 |publisher = UNDP |title = Azerbaijan Development Bulletin |accessdate = 2008-07-22 |df = }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.ans.co.uk/ |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=ANS |language=en-GB}}</ref>
Being an independent news company, ANS Group of Companies has played a significant role in the development of the independent media in Azerbaijan.<ref name="rfe"/><ref name="eur">{{cite web | url = http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav102606.shtml | title= Eurasia insight | accessdate=2008-07-22 | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20080813020755/http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav102606.shtml| archivedate= 13 August 2008 <!--DASHBot-->| url-status=live}}</ref> ANS Group of Companies has owned four sub-companies: ANS TV (now defunct), ANS ChM, ANS Press and ANS Kommers (Also first Azerbaijan Watches maker Company VMF). The group has also been known for its outspokenness, as seen through its media outlets.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ANS GROUP OF COMPANIES STRONGLY CONDEMN BEATING OF JOURNALIST |url=https://azertag.az/en/xeber/ANS_GROUP_OF_COMPANIES_STRONGLY_CONDEMN_BEATING_OF_JOURNALIST-547704 |access-date=2022-09-01 |website=azertag.az |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Azerbaijan suspends license of ANS TV |url=https://www.commonspace.eu/azerbaijan-suspends-license-ans-tv |access-date=2022-09-01 |website=commonspace.eu |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Portal|Companies}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080317091322/http://www.anspress.com/tv/ ANS TV] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080216122340/http://www.radio.ans.az/ ANS ChM] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20130722052300/http://www.anskommers.az/?lang=en%3Flang%3Den ANS Kommers]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ans Group Of Companies}} Category:Communications in Azerbaijan
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