"I was hopeful that Poland would adopt an automated financing method for its public-service broadcasters that would tie the amount of state support to GDP," said Haraszti. "However, the final version of the law does not guarantee minimum financing from the state budget to balance the abolishment of the licence fee. The amount these broadcasters will receive will have to be negotiated each year, which can lead to a politicization of budget allocations in exchange for editorial concessions."
The media law passed by Parliament abolished TV and radio fees from next year, replacing them with subsidies, and envisaged transforming the regional public television branches into independent broadcasters.
Haraszti said that the 35 separate public-service broadcasting companies that the law would create could fragment and weaken the public-service branch, and lead to the further commercialization of public media.
"It is widely known that Poland has long been struggling with providing independence to its public-service media," he said. "That’s why it is of crucial importance to create a law that will leave no doubt about the financial independence and editorial autonomy of these broadcasters. Democracies cannot flourish without the objective and pluralistic information that independent public media can provide."
OSCE Press release
