The ruling party in Poland tries to take American owned TV news station off the air

No one has noticed or cares about PiS's latest attack on the press? A new proposed law is transparently aimed at TVN (often critical of PiS policies).

politico.eu/article/polands-government-takes-aim-at-us-owned-broadcaster/

tvn24.pl/tvn24-news-in-english/eus-vera-jourova-we-follow-closely-the-situation-related-to-tvn24-5146230

It's times like this that I miss Georgette.... she would be banging on doors at this blatant attack on press freedom and attempt to return Poland to PRL media standards....

Meh, France and Germany have similar laws when it comes to maximum foreign investments in local media. They would never allow such a situation to happen in their mass media market as we have in Poland right now.


I believe she would. And some locals with an inferiority complex would even appreciate her actions. Fortunately, we got rid of that trollop. Polish matters should be resolved by Poles

If that American TV is owned by Soros or his proxies, I am with PiS. I don't need any more information.

You're close. It's owned by David Zaslav

Because I am a genius and because if it's American and stinks, it's Soros.

This is, frankly, ridiculous. PiS is merely trying to adjust Polish media market to EU norms regarding majority shareholders from outside the EU in the media sector. Germany and France have much harsher laws in this area, so I don't see what the problem is. Foreign owned media, like Sputnik or TVN, have to be regulated as they are in the "old EU" countries.

One can't help but notice the hypocrisy of PO who are trying to enforce a bill to delegalize TVP Info, but they would defend TVN with their bare breast :)


You put it very mildly. They are openly hostile towards the government and their policies (often to the point of losing objectivity and journalist integrity).

The problem in general is that we have very few independent media in Poland. Most of them are either blatantly pro-government (e.g. TVP, Gazeta Polska) or openly hostile towards it (e.g. TVN, Wyborcza). There are some objective (or semi-objective) weeklies, like Tygodnik Powszechny or Do Rzeczy, but major media clearly stand either on the side of the government or the opposition.

In any case, adjusting media market laws to the EU standards is a must.

We notice and care but we have been waiting until the situation develops further. Some rumour suggests that it is a replacement topic to cover the Tusk`s come back and revived popularity.

Of course such plans to close down independent TVN are typical antidemocratic moves by PiS. They want to get rid of TVN to have the information monopoly like in Belarus or Russia. Another step to dictatorship by the rightards.

And a very stupid one coz it damages our relations with the USA which PiS considers their main ally;. That is the same kind of stupidity of Polish "elites" which once led to partitions of Poland. PiS are ready to sell Poland`s interests for their little dirty machinations.


Do French and German national TVs blatantly support only the ruling party like it happens in Poland?

Subtly for sure, unless their boss has party connections with opposition.

Good example is the boss in NRK (Norwegian state television) nobody questions their pro-leftist stance, it's just that most journalists generally vote to the left politically

So people criticize their professionalism rather then political loyalties cause... be realistic. They won't change them

While I said blatantly. :)

@pawian
State institutions favor the ruling party in general, either they like it or not useally. Some places more then others. Same with the biurokracja (watch "yes prime minister" to get a better understanding)

Just that, with the opposition threatening closing down TVP... Basically motivating all TVP personnel to work against the opposition, rather then just doing their job.

It is perhaps a question of greater degree of subtlety but yes, they do.

But not in the style of TVPis which brings the memory of communist TV, especially their black propaganda against pro-democratic Soilidarity opposition after the martial law.

I said enough and only need to sum it up - without TVN, Poles will have no choice and will be doomed to swallow PiS propaganda coz there are no other independent stations as influential and big as TVN. I hope American pwners will put up tough resistance which will be fully backed up the Biden`s administration. Even if it means sanctions against PiS.

I agree, it's a matter of taste but no more than that.


That's a bit too dramatic imo.


I hope neither Americans nor Russians (nor Guatemalans, Filipinos etc.) have power or audacity to meddle in Poland's internal affairs.


Sanctions against PiS means sanctions against Poland. I'm not sure if it's entirely wise to call for such measures.

Of course not. Think again: what sanctions against PiS I meant which wouldn`t harm Poland? :):)


PiS rightards need to be taught a lesson. Americans are the only ones who are able to do it.

I don't know, I never was much of a mind reader. :) Tell me.


Outside intervention. I abhor that. Polish matters should be settled by Poles only (and PiS has only 2 more years to ruse, so...).

I meant some sanctions which the EU imposed on Belarussian officials who implement the antidemocratic actions of the regime.

There is a.... segment of the Right in Poland that desperately wants to bring the country back into the Russian sphere of influence.... and this is part of that.


PiS thinks it can treat allies the way it treats party members - regularly humiliating them.... (like that poor unqualified woman they nominated as Ombudsman who embarrassed herself in the Senate)


What's the konfederacja position on that? I'd expect them to support Lukashenka since that's the kind of government they want for Poland

I think PiS would survive this kind of sanctions. As I said before - they have only 2 more years to rule - this should be settled without outside intervention. We are an independent country.


But the media laws PiS is proposing are not anti-democratic. They are exactly the same as the ones implemented by Germany or France.

PiS rightards are doing it by accident. Further right, e.g, Konfa,. are doing it willingly. Both are feking traitors of Poland. .


Maybe, but the French or German government don`t mess up with the Constitution or judiciary like PiS do to create the one-party neo-bolshevik monopoly, .

Very similar judiciary legal solutions are implemented in Spain (and Germany if I'm not mistaken), and in Malta the Prime Minister personally appoints judges.

Somehow, it's OK in those countries but wrong in Poland. :)

I will repeat it again (and retire to bed, for well deserved rest after a crazy day with kids :)). Polish matters should be settled in Poland and by Poles alone. We are an independent country. Calling for an outside intervention in our internal matters doesn't seem entirely wise (to put it rather mildly).

But Americans, our allies, can give a hand too and decent people will certainly appreciate it. :):)


It is not a foreign intervention, it is American business settled in Poland for a long time. . And there is one important rule I need to remind you of: you don`t change rules during the game. Coz it is unfair. Simple, isn`t it?


Yes, I can see you are dead tired. :):) Me, too, but I still reason as usual. :):)

Have a well deserved rest, then.


Stop travelling such distances all over Europe. It wiil tire you further on. :):):)

According to that logic no laws could ever be changed, because the old ones are in place and the "game is on". :)


I'm just pointing out the obvious. :P


I will. Good night, Pawian, and please try not to plot any foreign forces intervention while I'm asleep. :):)

It's essentially retro-active legislation and a transparent attempt to silence any media that dares to criticize PiS....

When their policies really start backfiring they don't want the citizenry to have any access to anything beyond the party line.

I hope for American tough resistance in case of TVN to avoid seeing Kremlin intervention in Poland one day. :):) Nice you are not bothered by such issues - you are a happy man. :):) However, happinness shouldn`t turn into oblivion to reality.


Yes, it is and immensely unfair in result.


The latest poll suggests they are losing support. I suppose TVN brawl was already known to polled people. There are some PiS voters who also watch TVN and they are hugely disappointed with their darlings` plans.

Until things change, replace "American" with "American leftists" or "American Bolsheviks". There is no more "American". The biggest joke of all: American 1st Amendment. That's been sold to the American Bolsheviks a while back and neutered.

I mention all of this to show the irony of an "American" station being upset by Polish political parties and their attempt to regulate it.

You are wrong. PiS are neobolsheviks so how they can be at odds with bolsheviks? :):):)

Aah, that familiar pawian's way of debating. Lie, imply, insinuate, and make it look like the other guy said it, and go from there.

Just saying "you are wrong" is a shallow as a dog pi*ss on the sidewalk.

Prove it! Coz it seems that it is you who are insinuating now. :):)


No, it is a very polite way of telling you the truth. I am dealing with you in velvet gloves now coz I am not in the arguable mood - you don`t like it???

I don't get why they are playing with laws, they should be able to revoke licence of that TV


Well put!


Are you a clueless foreigner regardless of 20 years in the country. Well, it is not easy to get all if you are not into it that much.


Sanctions should be imposed on brazen traitors like you and your ilk.

No, darling, it is your favourite far right fascist gangsters who are traitors.


Aren`t you a clueless ex-Polish emigrant 28 years out of Poland? :):)


Bravo. That`s what far right would do - contribute to supressing independent media and to creating one-party monopoly. We shall remember it at the next elections. :):):).