Warsaw will assess Paramount Skydance's planned buy of TVN using a mechanism that lets the government stop ownership changes at businesses Poland labels strategic, which includes leading broadcasters. Balczun described the check as routine rather than political, telling YouTube outlet Kanal Zero that "No one is questioning our alliances - this is a straightforward procedural matter that will conclude with an appropriate decision." He added the timeline could stretch to 90 days and confirmed Paramount has not submitted its application.
TVN has been a flashpoint before. In 2021, the then-nationalist government tried to push through a measure that would have forced the US owner to give up control. That effort collapsed after pressure from Washington and President Joe Biden.
The ownership shift is drawing fresh scrutiny ahead of parliamentary elections expected late next year, with Prime Minister Donald Tusk's pro-European coalition trying to keep power as support builds for the right-wing opposition. Balczun acknowledged the polarized climate, saying, "In our polarized world, there is an attempt to politicize this matter," but insisted the review stays technocratic.
Foreign ownership reviews can stall a media deal for years. Market Briefs covers these approvals free every morning.
A centerpiece of the TVN portfolio is TVN24, a widely watched news channel. Its reporting on corruption under the previous nationalist government helped rally backing for Tusk ahead of the last election and has drawn fire from today's opposition. On Tuesday, Adam Bielan - an opposition politician who handles liaison between Poland's nationalist camp and President Donald Trump's US administration - told Kanal TAK he is acquainted with TVN's new owners, adding that he hopes the outlet becomes "objective" once the deal closes.
Paramount's $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery was finalized on Tuesday, following a fight over control with Netflix and antitrust court battles. In the US, Paramount agreed to set up an editorial independence board for CBS and CNN to calm worries that the Ellison family's rapport with Trump might sway coverage.
Meanwhile, Poland is in talks with the Trump administration about permanently stationing US troops in the country as a counterweight to a more aggressive Russia. For your wallet, this is a reminder that media mergers do not end when the ink dries - strategic labels, politics, and foreign ties can all shape how long integration takes and what changes on screen.
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