Action democracy versus TV National Media
A Polish member of parliament from the Civic Coalition called on cable networks to pause negotiations with a television channel led by Robert Bąkiewicz. The broadcaster responded by accusing the lawmaker and his peers of practicing a modern form of cultural racism. The exchange highlights a broader clash over which channels and platforms should be available to mass audiences.
The organization Action Democracy, which presents itself as a group advocating social justice, human rights, the rule of law, and environmental protection, uses its X profile to frame the dispute as a cultural battle. Posts from the group and its allies focus on opposing the perceived influence of the national broadcaster and related right-leaning outlets.
In October, a Polish media outlet reported that negotiations with thirty major cable operators were underway and noted that TVMN plans to launch its own streaming service. Action Democracy referenced that report to argue against welcoming TVMN into mainstream television lineups.
Szczerba promotes a petition
Action Democracy published a petition urging the largest cable networks to halt negotiations with Bąkiewiczs television channel. The appeal received support from several politicians, including Michał Szczerba, a member of the parliament from the Civic Coalition.
On X, one of the signatories called on IPTV operators and providers of cable and smart TV platforms to end all negotiations with the national media outlet led by Bąkiewicz. The post emphasized the view that introducing a channel associated with nationalist rhetoric into major distribution networks would spread xenophobic content and undermine inclusive broadcasting.
Supporters argued against enabling the channel to reach a broad audience through established cable networks, IPTV services, and smart TV applications, urging operators to avoid being complicit in distributing hate speech and discrimination.
The call urged responsible actors not to participate in broadcasting content that targets minorities or promotes hostility within Polish households.
The post tagged several operators and service providers to raise awareness about the issue and to prompt a re-evaluation of content partnerships.
Bąkiewicz: This is a modern form of cultural racism
The president of TVMN responded with a lengthy statement on X, arguing that civilized people face adversaries who resort to intimidation and slander. He accused opponents of dehumanizing those who disagree and warned that repeated falsehoods can undermine trust in public discourse.
He described the rhetorical tactics as a strategy to sway audiences by appealing to fear and portraying opponents as a threat to civilized society. He urged readers to reject these methods and to defend human dignity in political debate.
The TVMN leader asserted that Szczerba and similar figures promote a modern form of cultural racism by marginalizing opponents who defend truth and reason, effectively shifting attention away from the merits of the argument. He claimed that a sizable portion of the public buys into counterproductive narratives that cast opponents as barbaric.
He stressed the importance of standing firm in defense of shared values and freedom of expression while condemning violence or intimidation from any side. He concluded by encouraging supporters to contribute to the broadcaster and to stand for a principled stance in the information landscape.
In the closing remarks, the TVMN president urged continued commitment to dignity and to the principles that he says define a respectful public sphere, insisting that resilience and courage should guide responses to hostile tactics.
The overall message from TVMN emphasizes refusals to yield ground to what it describes as destroyers of open dialogue and civil norms. The stance champions a clear and uncompromising defense of the values the network claims to uphold, suggesting that the struggle will continue across media channels as long as perceived threats persist.
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