The National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) has rejected TV Republika's request to pay its second-year broadcasting license fee in installments. This requires the station to immediately settle the full amount. Chairman Tomasz Sakiewicz announced that if the Council insists, he will pay the remainder, but warns that such a turn of events could mean the end of the entire eighth digital terrestrial multiplex (MUX-8). The decision was made with two Council members voting in favor and two against. The television station argued its request based on the non-finality of a court ruling concerning its license.

Rejection of the Installment Request

KRRiT, during its meeting on February 18, did not agree to spread TV Republika's license fee payment. The station must pay the entire amount for the second year of broadcasting immediately.

Threat of MUX-8 Collapse

Chairman Sakiewicz warns that forcing the station to make the full payment could lead to the liquidation of the entire MUX-8 multiplex, on which Republika and other channels broadcast.

Conditional Readiness to Pay

Tomasz Sakiewicz declares that if KRRiT officially demands payment from the station, "of course he will pay" the missing part of the amount, but considers this a mistaken decision.

Argument of Non-Finality

Republika justifies its request based on the non-finality of the Provincial Administrative Court's ruling from April 2025, which revoked its license. The case is still in court proceedings.

The case of TV Republika's license has entered a crucial phase following a decision by the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) on February 18. During its last meeting, the Council rejected the broadcaster's request for the possibility of paying its second-year license fee in installments. This means the station must pay the full amount immediately. The station's chairman, Tomasz Sakiewicz, commented on the situation in interviews for the portals Wprost and Rozrywka Do Rzeczy on February 24. „"Jeśli KRRiT się uprze ws. koncesji, to my oczywiści dopłacimy resztę kwoty"” — Tomasz Sakiewicz. However, his declaration comes with a serious warning about the consequences for the media market. Sakiewicz points out that forcing full payment could threaten the existence of the entire MUX-8 digital multiplex on which Republika broadcasts. The licensing system for terrestrial television in Poland is regulated by the Broadcasting Act. KRRiT is an independent regulatory body that issues licenses, imposes obligations, and monitors broadcasters' compliance with the law. License fees constitute an important source of funding for public media and the Council's activities. Disputes between commercial broadcasters and KRRiT regarding the amount or payment terms of license fees are not uncommon and often end up in administrative courts. TV Republika defends its position by pointing to the non-finality of the Provincial Administrative Court's ruling from April 9, 2025, which had previously revoked its granted license. The station argues that due to the ongoing appeal proceedings, the legal situation is not definitively resolved, which justifies their request for flexibility regarding payment. The request to pay the fee in installments was submitted in mid-January. During the vote in KRRiT, there was a tie – two Council members supported the broadcaster's request, and two were against. In such situations, according to the regulations, the request is considered rejected. According to information from the portal HDTVPolska, the rejection of the request directly threatens the station's continued operation in digital terrestrial television because "the broadcaster cannot afford the license." Sakiewicz, in an interview with Wprost, emphasized that his station "proposed a fair way out" of the situation through the request for installments. In his opinion, forcing Republika to make a one-time payment serves neither the station, nor the viewers, nor market stability. The warning about the possible end of MUX-8 points to a broader economic problem of the content distribution model in digital terrestrial television, where the collapse of one significant broadcaster could drag down other entities sharing the multiplex infrastructure. This case highlights tensions in the Polish media market and the financial challenges facing smaller, niche television stations. The KRRiT decision, although legally justified by existing regulations, calls into question not only the future of one television station but also the stability of the technical broadcasting platform. The next steps, including a possible payment demand or further court appeals, will be crucial for resolving this conflict.

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