Media group Discovery to take legal action after Polish lawmakers advanced a media reform bill

Poland’s nationalist ruling party has moved forward with a media reform bill that critics say will undermine a TV station critical of the government. During the voting session in parliament MPs were yelling, accusing each other of treason and corruption.

Polish lawmakers back a controversial media bill that would force Discovery to sell control of its local TV group, ratcheting up a conflict with the U.S.

A Wednesday afternoon of high drama in Poland’s parliament has culminated in MPs passing a bill that will tighten rules on foreign ownership of media houses. The bill will now go to the upper house of parliament, the Senate.

What people are saying?

Secretary Antony Blinken We are troubled by legislation passed in Poland severely restricting restitution for Holocaust survivors and owners of property confiscated during the Communist era, and draft legislation that would gravely weaken media freedom. Our shared values are our mutual security.

Kenneth Roth Washington is “deeply troubled” by a controversial media bill in Poland that is “widely seen as targeting Poland’s largest independent TV station, TVN, whose news channel TVN24 has often been critical of the populist government.”