Protests in Poland against bill that would silence US-owned TV network

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said the law is not directed against anyone but seeks to protect Polish society

Protesters display posters in support of the independent broadcaster TVN during a demonstration in Warsaw, Poland. Picture: AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski

Demonstrations are taking place across Poland against a bill widely viewed as an effort by the country’s nationalist ruling party to silence an independent US-owned television broadcaster that is critical of the government.

Technically, the bill would prevent non-European owners from having controlling stakes in Polish media companies, but in practice, it would push Discovery to sell its controlling stake in TVN, a network with many channels that operates all-news station TVN24 and has a flagship evening news programme that is watched by millions daily.