Tomasz Sakiewicz has appealed to the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) to clarify the rules governing a potential reimbursement of costs incurred by Telewizja Republika in connection with its licensing obligations, and to explain how the current legal situation of the KRRiT affects the validity of its decisions.
“No one has even considered it appropriate to say what will happen with this money, and most obviously, what about the overpayment of the license fee?” the station’s head said on air.
The President of Telewizja Republika, Tomasz Sakiewicz, published a statement on platform X regarding a non-final ruling of the Voivodeship Administrative Court that annulled decisions granting licenses to broadcast on the MUX-8 multiplex, including the license granted to Telewizja Republika S.A.
License Accepted in Good Faith
The Management Board of Telewizja Republika S.A. once again addressed the National Broadcasting Council, requesting information on how costs incurred by the broadcaster in fulfilling obligations arising from the granted license would be settled should the above ruling be upheld by the court of second instance.
The Council was asked to specify:
- The rules for a potential reimbursement of expenditures incurred by the broadcaster related to the use of transmission infrastructure, promotional activities, and training necessary to fulfill licensing obligations;
- The procedure and legal basis for a potential refund of fees paid in connection with the granted license;
- The impact of the current legal situation concerning the composition of the National Broadcasting Council on the validity of its decisions.
It was emphasized that Telewizja Republika S.A. accepted the license in good faith, acting under the conviction that it complied with the binding legal order. Therefore, any negative legal consequences resulting from court rulings issued during ongoing proceedings should not burden the broadcaster, which fulfilled its obligations under the regulatory authority’s decision.
The statement also informed that, in order to ensure continuity of broadcasting and legal stability of its operations, Telewizja Republika S.A. has paid another installment of the license fee covering the period until the end of April this year.
“No One Told Us What About the Costs”
On Republika’s broadcast, Tomasz Sakiewicz recalled the particularly significant role the station has played recently.
“The case of Speaker Czarzasty would not have come to light if it were not for Telewizja Republika, if it were not for ‘Gazeta Polska,’ if it were not for the portal Niezalezna.pl,” he stressed.
He pointed out that there is a risk the license could be revoked, although the station has alternative means of broadcasting, which would, however, limit its reach.
“No one has told us what will happen to the costs we have already incurred, not only for the license itself. We have borne enormous expenses, and the state has as well, to promote MUX-8 and to implement it,” Tomasz Sakiewicz noted.
“No one even considers it appropriate to say what will happen with that money and, most obviously, what about the overpayment of the license fee,” the station’s head said. He added that an additional problem concerns the composition of the KRRiT. In his view, the Council should clarify the legality of its decisions.
“We must settle accounts, we must pay, but we also cannot, without your consent and without your knowledge, risk the money that you contribute,” Tomasz Sakiewicz emphasized.