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23-03-2009

New Polish media bill in the works

By Katarzyna Grynienko
    A new Polish media bill is going before parliament, with the hope it will go into effect in June 2009.
    The new bill would cancel TV and radio license fees, a significant source of the public broadcasting budget. Public media would be financed out of the Public Mission Fund and distributed by the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT, www.krritv.gov.pl)). The Council would increase to seven members, from the current five, and be overseen by a program committee of 15 members representing the Ministry of Culture, as well as media professionals. Public media will have to receive program licenses in order to receive the funding, which will also be available to private broadcasters if they fulfill set conditions.

    The 2010 budget remains consistent with current TV and radio license fee income, at PLN 900 million (€196 million).