NEW YORK and WARSAW, Poland, Aug.
12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Discovery, Inc. today
announced that it has formally notified the Polish government
that it will take legal action under the bilateral investment
treaty between the United States of America and the Republic
of Poland.
The notification follows Poland's discriminatory campaign against
Discovery's TVN, including its refusal to renew TVN24's
broadcasting license, and culminated in the vote yesterday in the
lower house of the Polish Parliament to pass legislation that would
ban upstream foreign media ownership in the country. The
legislation is the latest assault on independent media and freedom
of the press, and takes direct aim at Discovery's TVN, the
country's leading independent broadcasting group and news provider,
as well as one of the largest U.S. investments in
Poland.
Over a number of years, the current Polish government has
targeted TVN in an arbitrary and discriminatory manner as part of a
broader crackdown on independent media and in direct violation of
legal protections around freedom of expression.
The Notice of Dispute was sent to President Andrzej Duda earlier today. Discovery continues
to strive for a positive resolution to this situation, but should
this fail, Discovery intends to commence arbitration proceedings in
accordance with Article IX(3) of the Treaty and seek full
compensation for Poland's
breaches.
JB Perrette, President and CEO of Discovery International, said:
"Discovery has successfully operated and invested in Poland for nearly 25 years, making us now
one of the biggest international investors and employers in this
incredible country. The current Polish government's damaging
and discriminatory actions, however, leave us no choice but to
bring charges under the US-Poland bilateral investment
treaty. We are deeply committed to safeguarding our
investment in Poland and its
people, defending the public's interest in independent media and
the rights of freedom of expression. Discovery, as a
protected investor in Poland, is
afforded important rights and freedoms under the US-Polish
Treaty. We do believe this legislation will have a chilling
effect on U.S. and European investment into the Polish economy, and
we will aggressively defend our rights."
Poland's conduct violates
several obligations under the Treaty signed between the US and the
Republic of Poland on 21 March 1990. The obligations include fair and
equitable treatment, non-impairment by arbitrary and discriminatory
measures, non-discrimination in granting licenses, and the
prohibition on expropriation without compensation.
About Discovery
Discovery, Inc. (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is a global leader
in real life entertainment, serving a passionate audience of
superfans around the world with content that inspires, informs and
entertains. Discovery delivers over 8,000 hours of original
programming each year and has category leadership across deeply
loved content genres around the world. Available in 220 countries
and territories and nearly 50 languages, Discovery is a platform
innovator, reaching viewers on all screens, including TV Everywhere
products such as the GO portfolio of apps; direct-to-consumer
streaming services such as discovery+, Food Network Kitchen and
MotorTrend OnDemand; digital-first and social content from Group
Nine Media; a landmark natural history and factual content
partnership with the BBC; and a strategic alliance with PGA TOUR to
create the international home of golf. Discovery's portfolio of
premium brands includes Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC,
Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet,
Science Channel, and the multi-platform JV with Chip and Joanna Gaines, Magnolia Network, as
well as OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network in the U.S., Discovery Kids in
Latin America, and Eurosport, the
leading provider of locally relevant, premium sports and Home of
the Olympic Games across Europe.
For more information, please visit corporate.discovery.com and
follow @DiscoveryIncTV across social platforms.
View original
content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/discovery-inc-to-charge-the-government-of-poland-with-violations-to-the-us-poland-bilateral-investment-treaty-301354592.html
SOURCE Discovery, Inc.