Supporters of the conservative TV Trwam, part of the controversial Radio Maryja media group, say that their protest against the decision by Poland’s broadcasting council not to allow the channel a place on the new digital multiplex system is in support of Catholic’s rights.
Spokesman for the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party Adam Hoffman said that, "Catholics have their rights and should be able to enforce them."
Law and Justice member of the European Parliament (MEP) Ryszard Czarnecki said that taking the protest, which attracted around 200 people, to the EU is an attempt to “internationalize the cause of freedom of media in Poland”.
“I think that the authorities in Poland should consider whether accusations of restricting media freedom is good for their image [abroad],” the MEP added.
The National Television and Radio Council (KKRiT) said that Lux Veritatis Foundation, the owners of the religious media group, has not supplied the necessary financial guarantees to be granted space on the platform, which is replacing analogue transmissions.
TV Trwam is not funded from a license fee or advertising, as other television station are in Poland, but from private contributions from viewers and supporters.
The Gazeta Polska right wing daily, which supports Father Rydzyk’s controversial media network, called the decision by the Council “digital totalitarianism”, claiming that the KKRiT is full of supporters of the ruling centre-right Civic Platform party and that the decision to deny TV Trwam a place on the digital platform was a political, not financial, decision.
Father Rydzyk’s group have fallen foul of the Vatican in the past, which has accused it of meddling in nationalist politics when it should be concentrating on spreading a religious message. (pg)
source:TVP