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Poland angers US by rushing through media law amid concerns over press freedom
The Guardian ^ | 18 December 2021 | Reuters

Posted on 12/18/2021 1:03:35 AM PST by Cronos

Poland’s parliament passed a media bill that detractors say aims to silence a news channel critical of the government, in an unexpected move that will stoke concern over media freedom and reopen a diplomatic dispute with the US.

Critics say the legislation will affect the ability of news channel TVN24, owned by US media company Discovery Inc, to operate because it tightens the rules around foreign ownership of media in Poland.

The vote sours relations with the US, Poland’s most powerful ally, at a time of heightened tension in eastern Europe over an increasingly assertive Russia.

Lawmakers had not been scheduled to vote on the bill, but after a committee convened at short notice to discuss the issue it ended up on the agenda and was voted through in a matter of minutes.

...“The United States is deeply troubled by the passage in Poland today of a law that would undermine freedom of expression, weaken media freedom, and erode foreign investors confidence in their property rights and the sanctity of contracts in Poland,” state department spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement

...TVN24’s parent, TVN, is owned by Discovery via a firm registered in the Netherlands in order to get around a ban on non-European firms owning more than 49% of Polish media companies. The bill passed by parliament on Friday would prevent this workaround.

(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Germany; Russia; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: europeanunion; france; germany; nato; poland; russia; socialmedia; unitedkingdom
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1 posted on 12/18/2021 1:03:35 AM PST by Cronos
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To: Cronos

If by US they mean the Xiden Usurpation then good as that isn’t the government we elected. They stole power so they can go pound sand.


2 posted on 12/18/2021 1:10:40 AM PST by ProfessorGoldiloxx
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To: Cronos

Awww we lose our color revolution channel? If Poland likes it and DC hates it, it’s good.


3 posted on 12/18/2021 2:14:15 AM PST by DesertRhino (Dogs are called man's best friend. Moslems hate dogs. Add it up....)
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To: Cronos

> tightens the rules around foreign ownership of media...

One of the worst fears of globalists.


4 posted on 12/18/2021 2:17:39 AM PST by ArcadeQuarters (Remember the 2020 backstabbers. No more RINOs ever!)
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To: Cronos

January 2, 2022

The Dutch firm Middle Kingdom Media wishes to buy leading US media properties.


5 posted on 12/18/2021 2:24:57 AM PST by Brian Griffin ( )
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To: Cronos

says those champions of press freedom - Reuters and The Guardian!


6 posted on 12/18/2021 2:28:26 AM PST by MAGAthon (y)
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To: Cronos

“The United States is deeply troubled”

I’m perfectly happy when a major US corporation gets kicked back.

No corporation should be bigger than fundamentally necessary.


7 posted on 12/18/2021 2:28:58 AM PST by Brian Griffin ( )
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To: Cronos

Discovery is perfectly free to set up its headquarters in Poland and to let Poles run its operations.


8 posted on 12/18/2021 2:31:31 AM PST by Brian Griffin ( )
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To: Cronos
Poland’s parliament passed a media bill that detractors say aims to silence a news channel critical of the government, in an unexpected move that will stoke concern over media freedom and reopen a diplomatic dispute with the US.

What do they have to say about a US government that detractors say aims to silence the entire internet, alt media, and conservative voices?

Oh that's right, they're in on it. Never mind. Nothing to see here, move along citizen.

This version of the US can GFI, starting with Branden and his trained ho.


9 posted on 12/18/2021 2:38:49 AM PST by bagster ("Even bad men love their mamas".)
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To: Brian Griffin

Discovery Inc. is an “educational” channel, feeding some largely one-sided opinions about the virtues and failings of many aspects of life, and as such, might possibly be seen as a propaganda vehicle, and not as merely educational. From what I could glean about their associations, the NYT is a recurring partner in many of their ventures, so bias is certainly possible.

The leadership in Poland may not be altogether comfortable with that aspect of things. To say that some authorities here in the US are “troubled” by this action on the part of Poland, only points out the kind of bias that is apparent to the Poles.


10 posted on 12/18/2021 2:50:49 AM PST by alloysteel (COVID-19 Wuhan virus doesn't kill most people, stupid government dictates kill many more people)
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To: Cronos

It’s none of our business what they do in their country.

wy69


11 posted on 12/18/2021 3:23:51 AM PST by whitney69
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To: Brian Griffin

Let Discovery go build their own Poland.


12 posted on 12/18/2021 3:28:13 AM PST by SmokingJoe
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To: Cronos
Poland's parliament passed a media bill that detractors say aims to silence a news channel critical of the government,

And the problem is?
Didn't the Dems shut down Parler?

13 posted on 12/18/2021 3:29:57 AM PST by SmokingJoe
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To: Cronos

and Discovery is owned by.....checks sheet.....oh that’s right....Disney. One of the wokest of woke corporations. So Poland has decided that it does not want foreign Woke propaganda and lies being spewed on its airwaves. *shrug* Seems quite sensible to me.


14 posted on 12/18/2021 3:48:35 AM PST by FLT-bird
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To: Cronos

Screw the US, go Poland!


15 posted on 12/18/2021 4:02:56 AM PST by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: Cronos

ANYTHING that keeps the US media out of Poland is good for that country, or any country, for that matter, including the US.


16 posted on 12/18/2021 5:26:14 AM PST by BobL (I shop at Walmart and eat at McDonald's, I just don't tell anyone, like most here.)
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To: Cronos

Awww.. the Bidenoids are PO’d. Cry us a river, Brandon.


17 posted on 12/18/2021 5:26:43 AM PST by ScottinVA (Enough. Cage the libs.. now. )
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To: SmokingJoe

If the ‘Rats and bureaucratic apparatchiks in the US don’t like it, it must be a good thing. They also don’t like and want to eliminate or modify the First Amendment in this country.


18 posted on 12/18/2021 6:38:03 AM PST by Cincinnatus.45-70 (What do DemocRats enjoy more than a truckload of dead babies? Unloading them with a pitchfork!)
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To: Cincinnatus.45-70

Yes.


19 posted on 12/18/2021 6:45:07 AM PST by SmokingJoe
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To: Cronos

If Poland angered the Biden Admin, it must be a good thing.


20 posted on 12/18/2021 7:02:03 AM PST by moovova
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