Poland Drops Fine on U.S. News Outlet After Media Freedom Outcry
- Penalty reversal comes after presure from U.S. and investors
- Prime minister plays down plans to quickly revamp media rules
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Poland’s media-market regulator canceled a fine on the local unit of Scripps Networks Interactive Inc. for the way it covered anti-government protests, reversing its decision after criticism it was curbing independent news coverage.
The watchdog said on Wednesday it ran additional analysis and heard arguments from the broadcaster, TVN24, before annulling its 1.5 million-zloty ($432,000) fine. Scripps-owned TVN, which runs Poland’s most-watched private news channel, said in a statement on Thursday it was “satisfied” by the decision.