Today, the court ruled to overturn the licensing decision for TV Republika. After the verdict was read, journalists from several media outlets, including TVN24, approached the judge’s bench. Upon learning that the ruling must still become final, a somewhat disappointed TVN24 journalist remarked, “So, nothing happens until then? Okay,” and then walked away.
Earlier today, the Provincial Administrative Court delivered its ruling on a complaint against the decision by the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) to allocate a spot on the digital multiplex—among others—to TV Republika.
The verdict was announced at 1:00 PM. The court annulled the challenged decision of the National Broadcasting Council and its resolution dated June 21, 2024. At the same time, it awarded the complainant reimbursement for legal costs, as stated by Judge Barbara Kołodziejczak-Osetek.
Judge Kołodziejczak-Osetek said there had been an “improper evaluation of applications.”
The court questioned the “grounds cited by the authority [KRRiT], such as vaguely mentioned pluralism and vaguely stated public interest—only in regard to certain entities.”
The verdict is not final and binding.
On June 21, 2024, the KRRiT decided that TV Republika would receive one of the two available slots on MUX-8, the terrestrial digital television multiplex. The license was signed on July 3, and the station was assigned position 51 on the channel list.
After the verdict was read, a group of journalists gathered around the judge’s bench. Reporters from TVN24, identifiable by their press badges, tried to get more information about the consequences of the decision. The judge explained the procedures to them.
“So, nothing happens until then? Okay,” — assessed one of the TVN24 journalists before stepping away from the bench.
Earlier, the judge had commented on her ruling, noting, “Someone is always unhappy.”