In June, the National Broadcasting Council decided that the two free spots on MUX-8 for digital terrestrial television would be used by Republika and wPolska24, which are affiliated with Fratria. The applications for the channels Polska24 (MWE Networks Group operated by Polskie Wolne Media) and PTV (Hungarian TV2 Media) were lost in the competition. – At the meeting on 21 June this year, four members of the National Broadcasting Council passed a resolution on the use of slots on MUX-8. In my view, this constituted a breach of the principle of due diligence resulting from the lack of sufficient information about the applicants and the ignorance of some economic opinions. – wrote Prof. Kowalski.
A company linked to the MWE Networks Group, which lost, among others, with Republika, has appealed the decision of the National Broadcasting Council. – Polskie Wolne Media PSA has filed a complaint with the Provincial Administrative Court in Warsaw against the decision of the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) of July 2, 2024. We complained about the decision, alleging violation of legal provisions, incorrect evaluation of applications and lack of transparency in the procedures, including the lack of minutes of the meeting. We believe that the decision may have been taken contrary to the principles of equal treatment and impartiality. We request that this decision be revoked and its execution suspended. – Karol Warda, Vice President of MWE Networks Group, told Wirtualnemedia.pl.
Tomasz Sakiewicz: We paid for the year in advance before the deadline
Tomasz Sakiewicz, president of TV Republika, announced on Wednesday that the first installment of the license fee has been paid. – Today we paid the first year of Republic’s license for MUX. We achieved this thanks to the support of our viewers. A great gift to celebrate the victory over the enemy. “Defeat Bloshevik, defeat…” – he wrote on the X website (formerly Twitter). The license fee for broadcasting on MUX-8 is PLN 17.85 million (payable in 10 installments).
For this you need to add PLN 6-7 million annually to Emiteloperator of digital terrestrial television multiplexes and programming costs.
Sakiewicz attached to the entry a photo of a transfer to the National Broadcasting Council in the amount of PLN 1,785,216.10 million.. Last year, Telewizja Republic achieved record financial results in its history. Revenues increased by 21% and net profit reached PLN 3.5 million, including thanks to viewers’ contributions.
– We and the National Broadcasting Council’s licensing process have been accused of not taking into account our poor financial situation. Last year, we reported a profit of several million zlotys, which we attributed entirely to the development of the station. We turned on the signal 12 days after receiving the license, the fastest ever, and paid for the year in advance ahead of schedule. Meanwhile, one of those who appealed is begging us for money. It is clear that the National Broadcasting Council did not make a mistake – says Wirtualnemedia.pl, president of TV Republika.
“Analysis of the documents did not indicate the ability to obtain stable financing”
We asked Prof. Sakiewicz Kowalski to comment on the words of President of the National Broadcasting Council. – During the meeting of the National Broadcasting Council, an analysis of documents was presented that did not indicate the broadcaster’s ability to guarantee stable financing for the entire project. And it’s not just about the license fee and broadcasting costs, but also the declared investments in the program. The economic opinion of the Regulatory Department was clearly not positive – explains Prof. Tadeusz Kowalski, member of the National Broadcasting Council, in an interview with Wirtualnemedia.pl.
Republika intends to finance broadcasting, among other things, from donations from supporters. Although these amounted to PLN 6.47 million between December 19 and May 20, it is not known what the situation will be like in the following years. One can imagine a scenario in which Law and Justice return to power in a few years and the Republic’s leading journalists return to Telewizja Polska. Then the station’s supporters may no longer support it so generously.
– I did not say that I was against the granting of this license, I merely pointed out that among the entities applying for a place in multiplex eight, one of the applications, after the economic evaluation, was clearly not positive from the point of view of financing the project. However, the decision was made. I abstained from voting because I considered that this issue should also be clarified for procedural reasons.to which the process is subject, to be 100% certain that the decision of the National Broadcasting Council was taken with due diligence and after all doubts were cleared up – says Prof. Kowalski.
He interprets President Sakiewicz’s words as a response to the dismissal of Michał Winnicki’s company. – As I understand it, Mr. Sakiewicz is reacting to the situation in connection with the appeal of another participant in the proceedings, MWE Networks Group. All participants in the proceedings have the right to do so, and Mr. Sakiewicz also has the right to defend himself. The appeal is submitted to the National Broadcasting Council, and the National Broadcasting Council is obliged to forward it to the administrative court within a specified period. In this case, to the Administrative Court in Warsaw – adds Prof. Kowalski.
Nielsen data shows that in July this year TV Republika’s market share was 3.92%, giving the broadcaster the sixth result after TVP1, Polsat, TVN24, TVP2 and TVN. Recently, TV Republika Plus has been available via YouTube and MUX-L2 on digital terrestrial television (Rybnik and surroundings), which broadcasts less information and journalism, and more programs, including: entertainment, culinary and cultural.
