A US-owned news channel in Poland has had its broadcasting licence renewed just days before it was due to expire. But the future of the station’s parent company, TVN, still remains in doubt as parliament considers legislation proposed by the ruling party to restrict foreign media ownership.
TVN24’s current licence had been due to expire at the end of this week, on 26 September. The station applied to renew it more than 18 months ago, but the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) has repeatedly delayed its decision.
The regulator is seen as being under the influence of the ruling national-conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party. PiS sees TVN – the country’s largest private broadcaster – as hostile for its often critical coverage of the government.
This evening, KRRiT announced that the necessary four of its five members had voted in favour of renewing TVN24’s licence. However, it also asked the government for legislation clarifying the law on media ownership and TVN to “adjust its capital structures” to comply with the law, reports Gazeta Wyborcza.
Entities from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) are barred from holding a majority stake in Polish broadcasters. But US media giant Discovery, Inc. got around this ban by owning TVN through a subsidiary in the Netherlands.
In July, PiS submitted legislation that it says would end this loophole. It argues that this is necessary to prevent entities from places such as Russia and China from buying Polish media. PiS chairman Jarosław Kaczyński also claimed that it would stop “narco-businesses” from buying outlets to “launder dirty money”.
However, given that TVN is the only major broadcaster that would be affected by the change, critics see it as an attempt by PiS to further restrict the Polish media landscape. Under the party’s rule, Poland has fallen to its lowest ever position in the World Press Freedom Index.
The United States, United Kingdom and European Union, as well as various international NGOs, have expressed concern at the proposed new media ownership law. President Andrzej Duda, a PiS ally, has hinted that he may veto it in its current form to avoid endangering relations with Washington.
TVN24 itself would have been able to continue broadcasting even if KRRiT had not renewed its Polish licence, as it obtained one in the Netherlands last month. However, not all of TVN’s channels will be able to pursue this option when their licences come up for renewal.
Main image credit: Roman Bosiacki / Agencja Gazeta
Daniel Tilles is editor-in-chief of Notes from Poland. He has written on Polish affairs for a wide range of publications, including Foreign Policy, POLITICO Europe, EUobserver and Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.
