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===Conflict with Law and Justice government (2021)===
===Conflict with Law and Justice government (2021)===
{{main|Lex TVN}}
{{main|Lex TVN}}
Since 2020 TVN and the Polish government of the ] (PiS) has had a conflict. In July 2021, a group of PiS lawmakers, submitted to parliament a draft amendment that would prevent companies from outside the ] taking control of Polish radio and television stations. This would mean that Discovery, which owns TVN, might be forced to divest its ownership. TVN is known to be highly critical of Law and Justice government.<ref>https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/polish-draft-law-threatens-us-owned-broadcaster-opposition-says-2021-07-08/</ref><ref>https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/discovery-opposes-proposed-polish-media-rules-2021-07-12/</ref> ], PiS coalition partner, was opposed to this, they instead proposed a change that would allow companies from countries in the ] (OECD) to own more than 49% of shares in Polish media companies. Meaning no change to American ownership of the channel.<ref>https://finance.yahoo.com/news/polish-media-law-faces-uncertain-110229442.html</ref><ref>https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/junior-coalition-leader-says-media-law-amendment-threatens-investment-23620</ref> The government denies the measure is aimed at any one broadcaster, saying it seeks to prevent potential media acquisitions by non-EU countries such as Russia, China and Arab nations.
Since 2020 TVN and the Polish government of the ] (PiS) has had a conflict. In July 2021, a group of PiS lawmakers, submitted to parliament a draft amendment that would prevent companies from outside the ] taking control of Polish radio and television stations. This would mean that Discovery, which owns TVN, might be forced to divest its ownership. TVN is known to be highly critical of Law and Justice government.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/polish-draft-law-threatens-us-owned-broadcaster-opposition-says-2021-07-08/|title=Polish draft law threatens U.S.-owned broadcaster, opposition says|date=8 July 2021|website=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/discovery-opposes-proposed-polish-media-rules-2021-07-12/|title=Discovery opposes proposed Polish media rules|date=12 July 2021|website=Reuters}}</ref> ], PiS coalition partner, was opposed to this, they instead proposed a change that would allow companies from countries in the ] (OECD) to own more than 49% of shares in Polish media companies. Meaning no change to American ownership of the channel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/polish-media-law-faces-uncertain-110229442.html|title=Polish media law faces uncertain future amid coalition splits|website=finance.yahoo.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/junior-coalition-leader-says-media-law-amendment-threatens-investment-23620|title=Junior coalition leader says media law amendment threatens investment|website=www.thefirstnews.com}}</ref> The government denies the measure is aimed at any one broadcaster, saying it seeks to prevent potential media acquisitions by non-EU countries such as Russia, China and Arab nations.
On 11th of August 2021, the bill was passed via the Sejm on a vote of 228 to 216, with 10 abstentions, making TVN's rights expire on September 26.<ref>https://www.politico.eu/article/polands-pis-rams-through-media-law-despite-us-warnings/</ref><ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/11/world/europe/polands-media-law-passes.html</ref><ref>https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/11/poland-coalition-under-threat-as-parliament-votes-on-controversial-media-bill</ref>
On 11th of August 2021, the bill was passed via the Sejm on a vote of 228 to 216, with 10 abstentions, making TVN's rights expire on September 26.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/polands-pis-rams-through-media-law-despite-us-warnings/|title=Poland’s ruling party rams through media law despite US warnings|date=11 August 2021|website=POLITICO}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/11/world/europe/polands-media-law-passes.html|title=Poland’s Government Wins Vote on Media Bill, Despite Losing Majority|first1=Steven|last1=Erlanger|first2=Monika|last2=Pronczuk|date=11 August 2021|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/11/poland-coalition-under-threat-as-parliament-votes-on-controversial-media-bill|title=Polish parliament passes controversial new media ownership bill|date=11 August 2021|website=the Guardian}}</ref>
TVN was a Polish-American free-to-air television station. The broadcaster was co-founded by Polish businessmen Mariusz Walter, Jan Wejchert and Swiss entrepreneur Bruno Valsangiacomo. It is owned by TVN Group, which as of March 2018, is a subsidiary of Discovery Inc.
In March 1997 TVN obtained permission from The National Council of Radio Broadcasting and Television to broadcast in central and northern parts of Poland. A few months later TVN merged with Telewizja Wisła, which had a license to broadcast in southern Poland.
The channel was launched as TVN on 3 October 1997. During the first four years the network was run by its founder Mariusz Walter. In 2001 Piotr Walter became chief executive officer, replacing his father.
In 2004 TVN was available in 86% of Polish households. Since 2004 TVN has been listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. On 29 April 2004 TVN launched TVN International, an entertainment and news channel for Polish viewers living abroad. In 2005 TVN acquired rights to organise and broadcast Sopot International Song Festival until 2010. In 2006 TVN launched its high definition version, TVN HD, which was first HD programmed broadcast from Poland.
TVN is a supporter of the Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV (HbbTV) initiative that is promoting and establishing an open European standard for hybrid set-top boxes for the reception of broadcast TV and broadband multimedia applications with a single user interface, and conducted the first tests of HbbTV services in Poland in March 2012.
On 16 March 2015, TVN announced a sale of a 52.7% controlling stake to the U.S. broadcaster Scripps Networks Interactive (SNI) for €584 million, subject to regulatory approval. In July 2015, SNI bought out the remaining owners for €584 million. SNI was, in turn, acquired by Discovery Communications (now Discovery Inc.) for US$14.6 billion, in a sale completed 6 March 2018.
Since 2020 TVN and the Polish government of the Law and Justice (PiS) has had a conflict. In July 2021, a group of PiS lawmakers, submitted to parliament a draft amendment that would prevent companies from outside the European Economic Area taking control of Polish radio and television stations. This would mean that Discovery, which owns TVN, might be forced to divest its ownership. TVN is known to be highly critical of Law and Justice government. Agreement (political party), PiS coalition partner, was opposed to this, they instead proposed a change that would allow companies from countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to own more than 49% of shares in Polish media companies. Meaning no change to American ownership of the channel. The government denies the measure is aimed at any one broadcaster, saying it seeks to prevent potential media acquisitions by non-EU countries such as Russia, China and Arab nations.
On 11th of August 2021, the bill was passed via the Sejm on a vote of 228 to 216, with 10 abstentions, making TVN's rights expire on September 26.
Television in Poland