A proposed amendment to Poland’s Broadcast Act that could see Discovery forced to exit the country is being taken seriously by the US administration.
Onet reports that Washington is under no illusions that the amendment, which has been dubbed the “TVN Law”, or “Lex TVN”, is aimed specifically at the national broadcaster TVN, which is owned by Discovery Communications, and could result in key Polish officials having the doors closed to Washington for a long time.
Before then, however, and in order to resolve the situation, the US is making contact with individual politicians from the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party.
Onet notes that Derek Chollet, the counselor for the US Department of State, speaking to the publication Rzeczpospolita, said that President Biden is taking a personal interest in the matter.
It also says that during President Obama’s term in office, when Joe Biden was VP, the US imposed sanctions on a number of Hungarian officials and that such action could be taken in Poland’s case should the “TVN Law” be enacted.
For further information about the dispute and TVN, please see:
https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2021/07/23/chris-dziadul-reports-focus-on-tvn/
https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2021/07/22/poland-postpones-tvn-law-debate/