A Growing Queue of Broadcasters Waiting for the KRRiT to Extend Their Licenses
TVN SA is waiting for an extension not only of the concession for HGTV, which was claimed by National Broadcasting Council member Prof. Tadeusz Kowalski but also for TVN, TVN Turbo, and TVN International.
HGTV’s current license is valid until June 26, 2023. According to the regulations, another one for the next ten years must be applied for no later than one year before the expiration of the current license. The broadcaster’s application was received on June 23, 2022, and more than nine months have passed since then. The process is dragging on due to doubts, among others, by KRRiT Chairman Maciej Swirski about TVN’s ownership structure. Opposition Council member Prof. Tadeusz Kowalski has called on Świrski to address the application for a reconcession for the HGTV channel. The KRRiT, in its previous composition, renewed TVN 24’s license only after 19 months.
In contrast, the licenses of four more TVN channels are valid until 2024: the main TVN (expires April 14, 2024), TVN International (February 10), TVN Turbo (April 12), and TVN Style (July 28). The National Council has already received applications to extend the licenses of the first three (for TVN already at the end of 2022).
In early March, the KRRiT decided to extend Polsat’s license for another ten years (the current one is valid until March 2, 2024).
Still to come in 2023 are the current concessions of, among others, Agora’s super-regional radio Tok FM and Polityka (valid until November 3, 2023), as well as two terrestrial TV channels: Stopklatka (until October 29; Kino Polska Group) and Fokus TV (until November 21; Polsat Group). For the time being, the National Council has extended Stopklatka’s license.
TV Puls’ terrestrial license is valid until December 11, 2024.
In addition to Polsat and Stopklatka, the National Broadcasting Council, in its current composition, also extended the licenses of Radio Hit from Wloclawek, Radio Bon Ton from Chelm, and Meloradia Mazury, among others.