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
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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
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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
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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...
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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