The Polish public broadcaster TVP has decided against launching a new documentary channel named TVP Dokument at the end of August this year.
Instead, it will increase the number of documentaries it offers on two other thematic channels – TVP Kultura and TVP Historia – it already operates.
In a statement, TVP adds that these two channels are already available to over 99% of Poles, whereas TVP Dokument would have only been distributed by certain cable and DTH operators.
TVP also points out that it produced more documentaries in 2013 and Q1 this year ¬– 56 – than all other media outlets in Poland combined.
Furthermore, its flagship channels TVP1 and TVP2 transmitted over 900 first-run documentaries, equivalent to over 1,000 hours of airtime, in 2013, with its other channels also offering a large number – 40% of its total airtime, in the case of TVP Historia.
Significantly, TVP says that the launch of a documentary channel has been put back rather than ruled out.
Its appearance will depend on whether or not a slot can be found for it on Poland’s final DTT multiplex.