Chris Dziadul | BroadBand TV News

The Discovery-owned Polish broadcaster TVN has warned that one of its main channels could be forced off the air next month.

In a statement, it said that the licence of TVN7 will expire on February 25 despite an application for a 10-year extension having been filed over a year ago. Although the channel meets all the legal requirements, the inaction of the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) works to to the detriment of the media market in Poland, hitting viewers, other broadcasters and operators.

“As in the case of TVN24, whose licence was renewed after 18 months of waiting, there are no reasons to justify such a huge delay. The operation of the regulator may lead to the closure of TVN7 in a formula that guarantees free access to viewers throughout Poland. This means that Poles will lose the possibility of unlimited use of the largest entertainment channel in our country”.

TVN adds that “in announcing a veto against Lex TVN, Poland’s President Andrzej Duda, confirmed that the law must ensure the protection of acquired rights, including the rights to obtain a licence by entities that met certain conditions. There are absolutely no grounds for questioning TVN Discovery’s right to broadcast in Poland by the KRRiT. Such a long delay in the decision to renew the concession has a destabilising effect on the entire media market in Poland. A similar situation occurred in the case of TVN24, which received the licence on the last working day before the previous one expired, after waiting more than a year and a half. Due to the negative consequences for TVN as a broadcaster, the correctness of the TVN24 reconciliation process is now being examined by the court. The president also argued that “agreements must be kept”, referring to the treaty on trade and economic relations between Poland and the US. Failure to grant the TVN7 licence would violate this treaty”.

TVN7 was launched in 2002 and is currently the fourth most watched channel in Poland in the 16-49 age group. It holds a terrestrial, cable and satellite licence and nearly 30% of Polish viewers watch it terrestrially, free of charge.

Polish content accounts for around 70% of its airtime.

Source: BroadBand TV News