Warner Bros. Discovery plans to sell its subsidiary TVN Group, a media and entertainment company that runs TVN25 along with several other channels, Salon24 writes citing a report from Polish Newsweek.
Potential buyers reportedly include the Czech PPF group, an unidentified American broadcaster, and Hungarian billionaire József Vida, who is closely associated with Fidesz. Many journalists fear the third option, as they believe that in this scenario, Jarosław Kaczyński’s Law and Justice (PiS) will gain control of the powerful broadcaster.
Warner Bros. Discovery is reportedly facing problems with its business model amidst weak net profits and is thus looking to divest TVN for some PLN 10 billion (€2.3 billion), although Warner Bros. Discovery estimates that the transaction will ultimately end up at half that amount.
Newsweek also notes that sources say former PiS PM Mateusz Morawiecki is “lobbying” for the purchase of TVN by the Hungarians, although others claim these are just rumors and any actual PiS involvement is unrealistic.
The sale of TVN is to take place by May 2025, the same month the presidential election is set to take place, meaning it will be happening in an unusually politically charged environment.
