“Our predecessors would like to starve television.” Minister Wróblewska on media finances

During her speech on TVP Info, Minister Wróblewska emphasized that the ministry is working on a new system of financing public media. “It seems that our predecessors would like to starve television”, said Wróblewska. She added that public consultations are planned to take place in mid-June, which will allow for the development of a new media law.

Temporary financial support

The minister emphasized that before the new act comes into force, it is necessary to introduce it temporary support system financial for public media. The creation of a public mission fund is being considered, which will be available to the media now. “This is necessary because public media are in a difficult financial situation,” added Wróblewska.

PLN 3.5 billion annually for public media

According to Wróblewska, to save public media, approximately PLN 3.5 billion is needed annually. It is also necessary rebuilding public radiowhich plays a key role in the media ecosystem.

Securing public media for the future

The minister explained that public television is an integral part of a broad ecosystem that must be built to survive future crises. “Our priority is to disseminate culture and equal access to it, and public media are a key element of this plan,” she emphasized. Wróblewska also expressed hope that the new media law would be the result of extensive public consultations and would be consistent with the EU Media Freedom Act.

Financial problems of public media and TV license fees

For several months, Polskie Radio and TVP have not received funds from the RTV license fee, which further deepens their financial problems. Last week, Deputy Minister of Culture Andrzej Wyrobiec said that implementing the public mission of the media in Poland will cost money approximately PLN 3.5 billion per year, part of which will be covered by advertising revenues.

The impact of the presidential veto on the financing of public media

At the end of last year, the president Andrzej Duda vetoed the budget-related billwhich provided for Polish Radio and 17 regional public radio stations to receive up to PLN 3 billion from the state budget. Since then, most companies have not received further installments of the TV license fee. At the beginning of May, after notifying the liquidator of Polish Radio, the prosecutor’s office initiated an investigation into the matter. In April, the Parliamentary Public Finance Committee issued a positive opinion on the allocation of PLN 600 million from the budget reserve for the needs of Polish Television and Polish Radio.

Ministry of Culture and National Heritage is working on introducing a new financing system that will ensure the stability and development of Polish Television and Polish Radio. The temporary public mission fund and planned public consultations are steps towards creating lasting solutions that will protect public media against future financial crises. The new media law, in line with the EU Media Freedom Act, aims to disseminate culture and ensure equal access to information for all citizens.