Poland’s National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) has ruled that TV Republika must pay outstanding concession fees after rejecting its request for interest waiver.
TV Republika’s Interest Waiver Request Denied
The National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) addressed TV Republika’s request to waive interest accrued on late concession fee payments on Wednesday. The company was asked to provide supporting documentation, but the KRRiT ultimately rejected the request due to incomplete submission.
This means TV Republika is obligated to pay the outstanding debt, according to KRRiT.
Reasons for Rejection and Payment Details
TV Republika requested the interest waiver but failed to submit all required documents, leading the Council to dismiss the case. Professor Tadeusz Kowalski, a KRRiT member, explained that this means no agreement on waiving the interest.
Kowalski clarified that TV Republika had made various payments towards the second installment of the concession fee for broadcasting on MUX-8. He explained the process of interest accrual and deduction upon partial payment.
Sakiewicz’s Response and Debt Amount
Tomasz Sakiewicz, President and Editor-in-Chief of TV Republika, stated that they were informed through the media about alleged non-compliance.
As of today, TV Republika’s debt totals approximately 120,000 PLN plus 22,000 PLN in interest. This interest is calculated on the current balance, not the total concession fee. A collection order has been issued to the treasury, which is legally obligated to recover the funds, potentially by freezing the station’s accounts.
Concession Fee Obligations and Annual Installments
Kowalski emphasized that paying concession costs is a requirement of the competition for a place on the multiplex. He noted that TV Republika applied for and was granted a ten-year payment plan, and is therefore obligated to pay on time.
TV Republika Claims Payment and Disputes KRRiT’s Account
The President and Editor-in-Chief of TV Republika announced on X (formerly Twitter) that the remaining interest on the concession fee had been paid. He claimed KRRiT had offered to waive the interest as part of a de minimis aid program and that all necessary documents had been submitted.
Request to Convert Annual to Monthly Payments
In 2024, KRRiT approved TV Republika’s request to pay the entire 10-year concession fee in annual installments, a provision allowed by law, with an additional prolongation fee. TV Republika then requested to further divide the annual payments into monthly installments.
Payment Timeline and Non-Compliance
Under the agreement, TV Republika was required to pay the concession fee annually on September 1st. The payment was not made in September of last year, and KRRiT demanded full payment by January 15, 2026, after three months. TV Republika appealed for the annual installment to be split into monthly payments.
Partial Payment and Continued Disputes
On February 13th, Tomasz Sakiewicz announced on X that TV Republika had made another concession fee installment payment by the end of April. However, the law does not allow for monthly concession fee installments. Professor Kowalski stated that the partial payment violated the terms of the concession.
Background on TV Republika
Founded in 2013, TV Republika is a news and public affairs station with Tomasz Sakiewicz as its Editor-in-Chief. In 2024, the station obtained a concession to broadcast on the national MUX-8 multiplex, expanding its reach. Reports indicate the 10-year terrestrial concession for TV Republika costs 17.85 million PLN.