Polish TVN in the crosshairs: Hungarian TV2 owner plans bold acquisition amid Russian influence fears
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According to local media, the Hungarian television network TV2’s owner is looking to acquire TVN, Poland’s largest TV station, raising concerns in Warsaw about hidden Russian influence.
Following the 2023 Polish elections, the right-wing Law and Justice Party (PiS), led by Jarosław Kaczyński, lost its grip on both political power and the state broadcaster, TVP. TVP had played a key role in PiS’s media strategy, serving as a platform for pro-government propaganda. Without this tool, Kaczyński emphasised the need for the right wing to secure a new major television channel. In response, PiS shifted its focus to Poland’s commercial broadcasters, with TVN, the country’s most-watched private network, becoming a primary target.
According to 444, TVP acted as a major propaganda tool for the ruling PiS party for years, similar to Hungary’s public media under Fidesz. The channel pushed controversial narratives, including warnings of an LGBTQ “invasion” under opposition rule and publishing fake photos to discredit Donald Tusk and his family. While PiS’s propaganda helped rally its core supporters, it failed to attract broader public backing. After Tusk’s Civic Platform won the elections in October and formed a coalition government, they quickly replaced PiS loyalists running public media. Despite protests, PiS lost its primary media stronghold.
Throughout PiS’s seven years in power, Poland’s media landscape remained more diverse than Hungary’s, with independent newspapers and TV stations maintaining influence. This diversity allowed for independent opinions within both opposition and right-wing media, contrasting Hungary’s more uniform pro-government messaging. However, the PiS leadership continued to believe in the dominance of opposition media, particularly foreign-owned outlets, which they viewed as adversaries. The government repeatedly pushed for “repolonisation,” aiming to increase Polish ownership in the media sector, especially in response to German-controlled media companies.
In 2021, PiS sought to curb the influence of TVN, owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, through a law designed to limit the stakes non-EU companies could hold in Polish media. This legislation, widely known as “Lex TVN,” was ultimately blocked, when President Andrzej Duda, who had been nominated by PiS, refused to sign the bill into law. According to reports, Duda’s decision was influenced by U.S. President Joe Biden, due to concerns about restricting American media ownership in Poland. As a result, PiS had to look for other ways to gain influence over TVN.
Hypocrisy writ large with the ongoing political persecution by the Sovereignty Protection Office. Fidesz acts as a right hand for Putin to push Russian propaganda in Europe.
Bad news for hungary polish people are smarter than Hungarians. They dont want anything related to Russia bs even if that means to cut ties with hungary. Anyway, who in the EU needs hungary? Really….
any pro fidesz promoting pro russia BS here…. please ask any polish friend you have (if any) if they trust russia ion the same way hungarians do. you will get a shocking surprise!
I very much doubt the Polish government and people are going cede sovereignty to the Hungarian government to buy a tv channel, when viewed as representing the interests of the Kremlin; including PiS types who loath Russia? In fact a ‘red rag to a bull’?