Lex TVN

Lex TVN is a controversial Polish media law which modifies the Polish Broadcasting Act. It forbids companies except those from the European Economic Area from holding more than a 49% stake in Polish radio and television stations. The government denies the measure is aimed at any one broadcaster, saying it seeks to prevent potential media acquisitions by non-EU countries such as Russia, China and Arab nations; however, many critics described this law as an attempt to harass TVN in particular, given that it is the main television platform for the opposition to the ruling Law and Justice party .[1][2][3][4]

A "free media" banner held by demonstrators protesting against the "Lex TVN" on 10 August in Poland.

Background

TVN tends to be strongly critical of the Polish government since the Law and Justice (PiS) party came to power in 2015. Historian and columnist Timothy Garton Ash, writing for The Guardian, praised Fakty TVN's critical coverage of government issues when harshly criticising Telewizja Polska's Wiadomości (News)[5].

The Facts is not BBC-style impartial: it clearly favours a more liberal, pro-European Poland and is strongly anti-PiS. But unlike the so-called News, it is still definitely professional, high quality, reality-based journalism.[5]

The law

Since 2020 the conflict between TVN and the PiS worsened so much that, by July 2021, a group of PiS lawmakers submitted to parliament a draft amendment that would prevent companies from outside the European Economic Area of taking control of Polish radio and television stations. This would mean that Discovery, the owner of TVN, might be forced to divest its ownership.[6][7] The Agreement, then PiS' coalition partner, was opposed to this, they instead proposed a change that would allow companies from countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to own more than 49% of shares in Polish media companies, which would mean no change to the American ownership of the channel.[8][9]

The Second Cabinet of Mateusz Morawiecki under the ruling Law and Justice party argues that it will protect Polish broadcasters from takeovers by companies based in hostile foreign powers such as China and Russia. However, opposition, as well as representatives from European Union and the United States criticized it as it will force American company Discovery to divest itself from Polish biggest television network, TVN, which has been often critical of the PiS-led government; Polish opposition and some international observers expressed fear that the law is threatening press freedom in Poland.[1][10][11][12][13] The law has been criticized for "threatening the largest ever US investment in Poland".[1]

The law has also led to protests within Poland with a number of demonstrations on 10 August.[1][14]

in August 2021, the bill was passed via the Sejm making TVN’s rights expire on 26 September.[15][16][17] Due to strong opposition, this result threatened the stability of the United Right coalition after Deputy Prime Minister Jarosław Gowin had been sacked and had taken away the 13 members of his Agreement party.[15]

On 30 August 2021, the Chairman of the National Council of Radio Broadcasting and Television sent to the TV operators a decision to move the licence of sister channel TVN24 into the Discovery Communications Benelux B.V. license, housed in the Netherlands. The decision ensures the continuity of broadcasting the TVN24 program after September 26, 2021, regardless of the results of the ongoing conflict with Law and Justice government.[18]

See Also

References
  1. "The explainer: Lex TVN and Poland's parliamentary drama". Emerging Europe. 12 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  2. "W Sejmie "lex TVN" i reasumpcja głosowania. Lichocka: Wszystko jest zgodnie z prawem". www.rp.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  3. Kondzińska, Agata; Wroński, Paweł (11 August 2021). ""Lex TVN" przyjęte po skandalu w Sejmie i reasumpcji głosowania". wyborcza.pl. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  4. "Will Poland's Kaczyński survive his own media law?". EUobserver. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  5. Garton Ash, Timothy (25 June 2020). "For a bitter taste of Polish populism, just watch the evening news". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  6. "Polish draft law threatens U.S.-owned broadcaster, opposition says". Reuters. 8 July 2021.
  7. "Discovery opposes proposed Polish media rules". Reuters. 12 July 2021.
  8. "Polish media law faces uncertain future amid coalition splits". finance.yahoo.com.
  9. "Junior coalition leader says media law amendment threatens investment". www.thefirstnews.com.
  10. Armstrong, Mark (29 July 2021). "Poland: Media freedom fears as TVN24's licence extension is suspended". euronews. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  11. "Protests Held Across Poland in Opposition to 'Lex TVN' Censorship Bill". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  12. "EU slams newly passed law in Poland that could limit media freedom". euronews. 12 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  13. "Polish lower house passes media reform bill, which U.S. denounces". Reuters. 11 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  14. ""Free Media": Poles protest against changes to broadcasting law". Reuters. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  15. "Poland's ruling party rams through media law despite US warnings". POLITICO. 11 August 2021.
  16. Erlanger, Steven; Pronczuk, Monika (11 August 2021). "Poland's Government Wins Vote on Media Bill, Despite Losing Majority" – via NYTimes.com.
  17. "Polish parliament passes controversial new media ownership bill". the Guardian. 11 August 2021.
  18. "Zgoda Przewodniczącego KRRiT na wpis do rejestru programu TVN24 - Krajowa Rada Radiofonii i Telewizji - Portal Gov.pl". Krajowa Rada Radiofonii i Telewizji (in Polish). Retrieved 30 August 2021.


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