Radio Maryja caught broadcasting by satellite without the required license

Catholic radio station Radio Maryja has filed a motion to National Radio and Television Council (KRRiT) to extend its license with the right to broadcast via satellite. In early 1997 the radio station signed a commercial agreement with state television Telewizja Polska to use part of its frequency and send the station’s signal to Eutelsat satellite. The radio’s representatives stated they had necessary permission and licenses. In December of last year Gazeta Wyborcza reported that Radio Maryja aired its programs via satellite without the required license. When KRRiT head Juliusz Braun asked Radio Maryja for explanation, he instead received a request to extend the radio’s licence for satellite transmission. The cost of such license is merely zl 500. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 20) A.Z.