Major blow for Discovery in Poland
DECEMBER 17, 2021 17.17 EUROPE/LONDON BY CHRIS DZIADUL


Photo: Adam Kliczek, http://zatrzymujeczas.pl

Poland’s parliament (Sejm) has approved the so-called Lex TVN, thereby putting the presence of Discovery in the country in serious doubt.
In doing so, it dismissed the Senate’s earlier veto of the legislation.

The final decision of its enactment now rests solely in the hands of Polish President Andrzej Duda, who now has 21 days to make a ruling.

In a statement responding the vote, Discovery said: “The outcome of today’s surprise vote in the Polish parliament should alarm any enterprise investing in Poland and anyone who cares about democracy and freedom of the press. Through this vote, Poland undermines the values that have connected Poland with Europe and uproots the foundation of the Polish-American relationship. We now appeal to the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, to keep his word and veto this legislation”.

Broadband TV News that ‘Lex TVN’ refers to amendments to the country’s Broadcast Law would require all licensed distributors of radio and TV services in Poland to be based in the European Economic Area (EEA) and not be dependent on anyone based outside the EEA.

This would impact TVN as although its owner Discovery is registered in the Netherlands as Polish Television Holding BV it is ultimately headquartered in the US.