Lex TVN. Przebieg debaty publicznej

Abstract

“Lex TVN” is not a legal term, but a popular one referring to an amendment in 2021 of the Article of the Polish Broadcasting Act, providing for conditions of granting a broadcasting licence to a foreign owner. This, amendment conditioned the granting of the said licence to entities “whose registered office or address of residence is located in the Member State of the European Economic Area”. The Polish TV company TVN did not meet this condition, being owned by the American Discovery Holding Company (now Warner Bros. Discovery). This amendment was put through the Sejm and the Senate, and then, in December 2021, was vetoed by the President. The author presents the turbulent fate of the unsuccessful modification, evoking violent political emotions, as reflected in the Polish digital media. He emphasises the rationale of the governing party and the opposition, expressed in the statements of politicians, and in articles and comments of journalists. In the conclusion, the author characterises the polarisation of political attitudes of Poles as the audience of channels promoting the position of the government (Polish Television TVP) or the opinions of the opposition (TVN). He also discusses the problem of the politicisation of law, and the pressure effected on the national law by interests of global corporations.