Warsaw: Warner Bros Discovery has decided not to proceed with the sale of its Polish broadcaster TVN, putting an end to ongoing speculation about the company’s future. The media giant confirmed the decision on Monday following a comprehensive strategic review, underscoring the broadcaster’s significance within Poland’s media landscape.
The decision comes amid a broader climate of geopolitical and economic uncertainty, with U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff policies causing many investors to exercise caution and delay major deals. According to a Reuters report, a source said that at least one potential buyer had already withdrawn its bid for TVN due to concerns over global recession risks and rising geopolitical tensions.
In a statement addressed to employees and reviewed by Reuters, Warner Bros Discovery said:
“WBD has concluded that the best path forward is retaining ownership of TVN, continuing to support our business, our strategy and the incredible journalistic work of our team.”
Interest in acquiring TVN, the operator of popular news channel TVN24, came from multiple directions. Polish billionaire Michal Solowow’s MS Galleon fund had expressed interest, while media group WP Holding was also in the race, according to sources familiar with the matter. However, MFE-MediaForEurope, the broadcaster controlled by Italy’s Berlusconi family, reportedly withdrew its bid earlier this year.
When asked by Reuters, WP Holding declined to comment on any acquisition processes. MS Galleon and MFE-MediaForEurope did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
TVN’s strategic importance was formalized in December when the Polish government added it to a list of key media and telecommunications firms. This classification meant any ownership transfer would require state approval. The designation also reflected broader concerns, particularly ahead of Poland’s presidential election in May, as officials seek to safeguard the nation’s information infrastructure from external influence, including from Russia.
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TVN has been part of Warner Bros Discovery’s portfolio since 2022, following the merger of Warner Bros with Discovery Channel. Before that, the broadcaster was acquired by U.S.-based Scripps Networks in 2015.
In line with its restructuring efforts, Warner Bros Discovery announced in December that it would separate its declining cable TV segment from its streaming and studio businesses, grouping it under a new unit called Global Linear Networks.
Despite the uncertainties, TVN posted strong financial results in 2023, with revenue growing approximately 6% year-on-year to 2.26 billion zlotys ($603.26 million), and net profit rising by more than 26% to 419.7 million zlotys.
