The Polish news channel TVN24 has been granted a Dutch broadcasting license. This allows the channel to continue broadcasting in the European Union, even if Poland decides not to renew the local license, parent company Discovery writes a statement.
The survival of the last channel in the country to criticize the government is at risk. Last week, the lower house passed a controversial amendment to the media law. If the Senate also agrees, non-European companies will no longer be allowed to have a majority stake in Polish media.
The Polish government says the amendment of the media law is necessary to prevent foreign influence through the media. Critics call it a way to limit press freedom.
Doesn’t solve the problem
TVN’s license expires at the end of September. “If the Polish Broadcasting Council does not renew the license, the Dutch license will allow us to continue broadcasting on TVN24 in consultation with Polish and European legislation,” writes Kasia Kieli, Discovery’s European president.
Kieli emphasizes that the channel continues to fight against the Polish government. “This doesn’t solve the problem we have with the new media law,” Kieli says. “The future of TVN and press freedom in Poland are still in danger.”
Discovery announced legal action against the Polish government last week. According to the media group, Warsaw violates a bilateral investment treaty with the United States with the new legislation. US Secretary of State Blinken previously expressed his great concern about the law.
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