French-German broadcaster breaks ties with Poland's TVP
PR dla Zagranicy
Roberto Galea
30.01.2016 11:06
French-German broadcaster ARTE has severed its relationship with Polish public television station TVP over recent moves by the Polish government to introduce changes to state-owned media.
The TVP headquarters in Warsaw. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
“Following the adoption of the [media bill] in December 2015, ARTE decided to suspend its contractual relations with TVP,” ARTE said on its website.
“No new coproduction will be launched [between the two companies], as ARTE does not have the certainty that freedom of expression, editorial independence and pluralism of public television in Poland are guaranteed.”
The media bill, which was signed by President Andrzej Duda in early January, was criticised at home and abroad. A senior aide to Duda argued that Poland's public broadcasters need to be more "impartial".
The conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, which came to power in October general elections, has accused the Polish public media of being biased against it and pledged sweeping change.
The media bill has already seen new management being appointed at the TVP state broadcaster and Polish Radio. The PAP news agency will also see changes.
Reporters Without Borders has said that the new law “gives the government full control over public broadcasters, thereby violating fundamental European Union values”. (rg/pk)