PIS MAKES PLAY FOR PUBLIC MEDIA

UNCLAS WARSAW 004079 SIPDIS EUR FOR ACE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECPS KPAO PGOV PREL PL SUBJECT: PIS MAKES PLAY FOR PUBLIC MEDIA REF: WARSAW 3720 SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (U) On December 16th Law and Justice (PIS) moved to change the National Broadcasting law and effectively seize political and, consequently, editorial control of Polish Public Television (TVP) and Radio (PR). The amendment was fast-tracked through Parliament (same day reading and voting with no discussion) by PIS with support from LPR (League of Polish Families) and Samoobrona (Self-Defense). The amended law will reduce the National Broadcasting Council (NBC) from nine to five members. Members will be appointed thusly: two from the presidency (PIS's Lech Kaczynski),two from the Parliament (likely from the unofficial PIS, LPR, Samoobrona coalition),and one from the Senate (PIS majority). This will provide PIS with a clear three member majority on the five member council with two members likely representing the interests of coalition minority members LPR and Samoobrona. PIS spokesmen argue that the move is strictly "economical" and aimed at streamlining bureaucracy while current NBC member Lech Jaworski said that the changes represent "domination replaced by monopolization." Structural Changes -------------- ¶2. (U) Each public media outlet in Poland is governed by a Board of Directors nominated by Supervisory Boards. The Supervisory Boards are nominated by the National Broadcasting Council. The NBC is hence the source for all appointments in the public media sphere and wields enormous influence. The original (1990) broadcasting law created a shelter to prevent media manipulation on the premise that no one party would control all of the bodies that nominate to the NBC; i.e. the Presidency, the Parliament, and the Senate. With its decisive victories in the parliamentary and presidential elections, PIS has control of all three bodies, and thus is in exactly that position. TVP channel 1 (the most watched news in Poland) news director Robert Kozak, formerly BBC Program Director for Poland, noted with skepticism that "this could provide the opportunity for Poland to move towards the British system of apolitical, technocratic appointments outside of political pressure" but that "we are a long way from that practice in our nascent democracy." Political Reality -------------- ¶3. (U) TVP 1 Current Affairs Director Andrzej Godlewski said that he was certain "our chairman will go." He casually mentioned that his current slate of tasks had a heavy emphasis on Belarusian programming of "a political nature" which may suggest that upper managers at TVP can feel the political winds changing and want to adjust accordingly. Per reftel Post has observed that PIS was not happy with the election coverage of state public media, and since assuming office the new government notably has chosen the ultra-conservative, Catholic Radio Maryja (recently exceptionally granted license renewal without application) as its medium of choice for important policy announcements. Educated observers feel that this move is a concerted effort by the "conservative coalition" to push what they feel is an overtly liberal public media back in line with Poland's moral character. Two Steps Forward... -------------- ¶4. (U) Comment: For the competitive professionals at TVP this change could signal taps. TVP has undergone rapid change to remain competitive with private, cutting-edge broadcasting firms TVN and Polsat. Despite still holding over 50% of the broadcast market TVP is losing the race for the next generation with over 75% of youth aged 18-30 tuning in to TVN and Polsat. As Godlewski noted in reftel, this "politicization" of TVP may hasten its demise even faster...a "PBS styled" state channel focusing on nationalistic programming of Polish heritage and culture, with pro-government directors chosen by the Kaczynskis setting the tone. HILLAS