Statement by private broadcasters: we protest against depriving viewers of access to their favorite channels

Source: TVN24 | TVN24 

TVN, Polsat, TV Puls, and Kino Polska have issued a joint statement regarding the switch to a different standard of digital terrestrial television. “On June 27, the process of changing the frequency and broadcasting standard of terrestrial TV stations – from DVB-T to DVB-T2 – will be completed. As a result of the decision made by the Office of Electronic Communications at the request of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, the private broadcasters were treated differently than the public television which, unlike the commercial broadcasters, does not have to switch to the new DVB-T2 broadcasting standard. It means that the process of refarming and changing the broadcasting standard was conducted in a manner that is significantly divergent from the arrangements made in the last 2 years among the broadcasters, the Office of Electronic Communications (UKE), the National Broadcasting Council ( KRRiT) and the Ministry of Digital Affairs. In consequence, about 2.5 million viewers are unable to receive the free-to-air channels of Polsat, TVN, TV Puls, Kino Polska and many others. We oppose unfair actions that have deprived a major number of terrestrial TV viewers of access to their favorite channels and discriminate against all commercial broadcasters while favoring public television. We will fight for viewers’ rights, as well as our own as the largest broadcasters in Poland, against the effects of these actions, and demand adequate compensation and the fastest possible switchover of the TVP channels to the broadcasting standard that is binding on other broadcasters “.