Polish senators have in a joint committee meeting decided to reject in its entirety a controversial draft amendment to the Broadcast Act – the so-called ‘Lex TVN’ – that could see Discovery being forced to exit the country.
Onet reports that 23 senators were in favour of rejecting the amendment and 11 against, with no abstentions. Broadband TV News notes that the Senate is now due to vote on ‘Lex TVN’ on September 9, with the amendment then being passed to the Sejm (parliament) for a potential vote on September 15-17.
Discovery sees the next few days as crucial to its future in Poland.
Kasia Kieli, president and MD for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), said: “Our primary concern continues to be the proposed bill on media ownership passed in Sejm earlier this month, which will force us out of the country and jeopardise freedom of press in Poland. The bill is a clear breach with the Polish constitution, EU law and the Bilateral Investment Treaty between Poland and the US. For us and any US investor in Poland, this process is a test of the regulatory stability in the country and the partnership between Poland and the US. For the Polish people, far more serious values are at stake, as this is a defining moment for the rule of law, freedom of press and democracy in Poland, all of which are at risk”.
Discovery has also indicated to Broadband TV News that the National Broadcasting Council’s (KRRiT) decision to grant operators permission to include Discovery’s now Dutch-registered news channel TVN24 in their programme line-up in no way solves the situation for TVN/Discovery and independent media in Poland.
