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Roman Abramovich lost his share in Channel One Yuri Kovalchuk. At first glance, this decision may be associated with an elementary market for the market between the two oligarchs close to power, the desire of Roman Arkadyevich to reduce his Russian assets, and the disappearance of interest in the media market by the long-term host of the first. But only the transaction amount looks so ridiculous in comparison with the real value of the country's main button, which is unlikely to talk about business interests here. Rather, about the change of proxy - which is much more important from the point of view of the immediate interests of the authorities.

For many years, the first channel has been looking for an enterprise managed by a trustee: the value of the Time program and other programs in the eyes of the authorities is too great to allow the first promotions to simply flow from one hand to others. Abramovich also bought the first channel for nothing - from Boris Berezovsky, depressed from the country. And he sells for nothing - considered to be a close friend of Putin to Yuri Kovalchuk. Because mastering the shares of the first is not a business. This is a trust that allows you to engage in another business. And another business with such trust brings income that allows you to become a confidant again and again - such a vicious circle of loyalty.

Why did Abramovich lose this trust, but Kovalchuk acquired, it is not necessary to explain. Roman Arkadievich for many years was a confidant of the Yeltsin "family", at Chelsea matches, one could notice its prominent representatives and closest relatives of the first president. But in 2011, Vladimir Putin needs his person at the head of the information empire. He is not that against the "family", but does not yet know if the clan of veterans for him. And the second president does not want to risk the first button. That is why he makes the actual owner of the channel not just the most influential oligarch of the country, but the person to whom he can unconditionally trust and whose business is associated primarily with the future role of Putin in the state.

The point is not even that, choosing Kovalchuk, Putin decides to secure the presidency of 2012: such decisions are not made by a TV. In any case, the TV must declare any decision to Putinsky - that is why, instead of Abramovich, Kovalchuk is needed.

Does this mean that the first channel will change? No, of course: no one is interested in such changes, the authorities are just necessary that everything remains as it was. The first is the classic channel of the post -Soviet state, entertaining, varnishing, silent, entertaining. What to change in it when everything is wonderful? Unless Putin in the program "Time" will become a little more than Medvedev - but only Kremlinology experts will notice it. Abramovich lost the first channel not because the authorities want changes, but because it does not want surprises.