Telewizja Republika
A Polish right-wing television news and current-affairs broadcaster distributed through satellite, digital terrestrial television and online platforms.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Telewizja Republika, commonly known as TV Republika, is a Polish television broadcaster headquartered in Warsaw. It operates as a news and current-affairs channel with programming distributed by satellite, online services including YouTube, and selected local digital-terrestrial multiplexes. The station broadcasts primarily in Polish and has also maintained an English-language editorial output during late-night hours. Since 2022, its schedule has operated on a 24-hour basis, with the main Polish-language live schedule running through most of the day and night. The channel is generally described as right-wing and conservative in its editorial orientation. Its founders identified the American Fox News model as an inspiration, while the station has developed a strongly sympathetic relationship with Poland's Law and Justice party (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość, PiS). That political alignment has shaped both its audience proposition and its role in Poland's polarized media environment. The broadcaster presents itself as an independent alternative to public and commercial news outlets, while critics and media-monitoring bodies have questioned the impartiality of some of its political coverage. The project began taking shape in 2012 under Telewizja Niezależna S.A., with Piotr Barełkowski initially serving as management-board president. Bronisław Wildstein and Tomasz Sakiewicz were among the early senior figures, and Wildstein became editor-in-chief at the end of 2012. The station formally came under Telewizja Republika S.A. on July 1, 2013. Its early team drew journalists and commentators associated with publications and websites such as Gazeta Polska, Do Rzeczy, Niezalezna.pl and Fronda.pl. The company sought financing through a public share offering in 2013 after early operating losses and investment needs. Leadership and editorial control changed several times during the station's first decade. Tomasz Terlikowski became editor-in-chief in 2014, followed by Dorota Kania in 2017 and then Tomasz Sakiewicz, who also became president of Telewizja Republika S.A. A number of journalists later moved to Telewizja Polska and Polskie Radio, but the channel retained a recognizable conservative media identity. The broadcaster's visibility increased sharply after the change of government and the transformation of Poland's public-media leadership in December 2023. TV Republika extensively covered events at the headquarters of Telewizja Polska, Polskie Radio and related public-media institutions. Nielsen-reported audience figures cited in accounts of the period showed a rapid rise in evening viewing and market share. Former TVP presenters and reporters, including Michał Rachoń, Danuta Holecka, Miłosz Kłeczek, Adrian Borecki, Edyta Hołdyńska and Rafał Patyra, joined or returned to the channel, expanding its news and current-affairs lineup. In 2024 the station added programs such as Express Republiki, Po 9:00 and Express Plus. It also received a license to broadcast on Poland's eighth digital-terrestrial multiplex, began test transmission in June and officially launched terrestrial service in July 2024. A Warsaw administrative court later ordered the licensing decision reversed, although the ruling was subject to appeal. In December 2024, the broadcaster moved to a new headquarters equipped with updated production technology. Its principal competitive position is that of a high-intensity, politically aligned news channel serving viewers seeking a conservative and PiS-sympathetic interpretation of Polish politics.
History
Telewizja Republika emerged from a media project developed from 2012 onward by Telewizja Niezależna S.A. The founders described the American Fox News model as an influence and sought to build a broad conservative television platform drawing on journalists from Poland's right-leaning press and online media. Bronisław Wildstein and Tomasz Sakiewicz held early executive roles, while Piotr Barełkowski served as the initial management-board president. Wildstein became editor-in-chief at the end of 2012. The station's Warsaw studio was blessed in February 2013, and the company began operations with a small staff and an initial financing plan centered on shareholder investment. Early results were loss-making, and the broadcaster launched a public share offering in October 2013 to raise funds for development. On July 1, 2013, management was formally transferred to Telewizja Republika S.A., the successor to Telewizja Niezależna S.A. The station initially operated from Farbiarska Street before moving its studio to Dzielna Street in early 2014. Piotr Barełkowski left the presidency in March 2014, and Radosław Dobrzyński became general director in April. In September of that year, Tomasz Terlikowski replaced Bronisław Wildstein as editor-in-chief, with Anita Gargas serving as deputy. Between 2016 and 2017, several journalists and commentators departed for Telewizja Polska and Polskie Radio. In May 2017, Terlikowski ceased managing the channel while remaining involved as program director; Dorota Kania became editor-in-chief. Tomasz Sakiewicz subsequently assumed the editor-in-chief role and became president of Telewizja Republika S.A. The broadcaster remained a politically distinctive right-wing outlet and was widely associated with support for Law and Justice. Accounts of the station also describe financial support from the Polish government during periods when that party was in power. In 2015, a National Broadcasting Council review of election-campaign coverage identified the Dzisiaj news service among the outlets with especially biased materials, based on analysis by the University of Warsaw's Media Research Laboratory. The station's premises were damaged by flooding after heavy rain in August 2020. A major turning point came in December 2023, when a new Polish government initiated changes at public-media institutions. Telewizja Republika devoted extensive coverage to events at Telewizja Polska, Polskie Radio, the Television Information Agency and the Polish Press Agency. The coverage attracted a large audience, and the station became a leading destination for viewers opposed to the changes. Former TVP staff joined the channel, including Michał Rachoń, who became programming director, Danuta Holecka, Miłosz Kłeczek, Adrian Borecki, Edyta Hołdyńska and Rafał Patyra. The station expanded its schedule during 2024. New or refreshed programs included Express Republiki, Po 9:00 and Express Plus, while the channel continued to develop Dzisiaj, Gość Dzisiaj and Jedziemy. It also carried live coverage of political demonstrations and protests connected with the public-media dispute and the imprisonment of Law and Justice politicians Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik. Regulatory distribution expanded in 2024 when the National Broadcasting Council awarded Telewizja Republika a license for the eighth digital-terrestrial multiplex. Test transmission began on June 28, followed by the official launch on July 12. In April 2025, the Warsaw Voivodeship Administrative Court ordered the licensing decision reversed; the ruling was not final and the council's chairman announced an appeal. In December 2024, the channel moved to a new Warsaw headquarters with updated production equipment. Today, its business consists primarily of television news, political commentary, live event coverage and digital video distribution, with a strong focus on a conservative Polish audience.
- 2024
Launch on digital terrestrial multiplex eight
[1]After test transmissions, Telewizja Republika begins official broadcasting on the eighth digital-terrestrial multiplex.
- 2024
Move to upgraded headquarters
[1]The broadcaster moves to a new Warsaw headquarters with updated production facilities.
- 2023
Audience surge after public-media changes
[1]Extensive coverage of the public-media dispute drives a sharp rise in viewing and national visibility.
- 2022
24-hour broadcasting
[1]The channel begins operating a 24-hour schedule.
- 2017
Tomasz Sakiewicz takes senior leadership role
[1]Tomasz Sakiewicz becomes editor-in-chief and later president of Telewizja Republika S.A.
- 2014
Editorial leadership changes
[1]Tomasz Terlikowski becomes editor-in-chief, replacing Bronisław Wildstein.
- 2013
Formal operating company changes
[1]Telewizja Republika S.A. takes over the station's management from Telewizja Niezależna S.A.
- 2012
Channel project begins
[1]The Telewizja Republika project begins under Telewizja Niezależna S.A., with a stated ambition to create a Polish conservative news channel.
Products and positioning
A conservative, right-wing Polish news broadcaster presenting itself as an independent alternative to mainstream commercial and public television, with especially strong editorial sympathy toward Law and Justice.
Television news
Dzisiaj
The station's principal news program, covering Polish politics, public affairs and breaking events. It became especially prominent during the 2023–2024 dispute over public media and was repeatedly used as the channel's main vehicle for live political reporting.
Political interview program
Gość Dzisiaj
An interview-oriented current-affairs program built around conversations with politicians and public figures. It forms part of the station's prime-time news and commentary offering.
Television news · 2024
Express Republiki
A daily news program introduced in February 2024 and positioned as a competitor to Teleexpress. It extends the channel's rolling news coverage beyond the main Dzisiaj bulletin.
Political commentary
Jedziemy
A political-current-affairs program associated with Michał Rachoń. The program reflects the station's emphasis on confrontational political analysis and conservative commentary.
Broadcast distribution · 2024
Digital terrestrial service
A terrestrial distribution service launched through the eighth digital-terrestrial multiplex in July 2024, complementing the station's satellite and internet availability. Its regulatory status became contested after a 2025 administrative-court ruling.
Controversies
2024
Jan Pietrzak migrant comments
Comments made by Jan Pietrzak during a December 2023 interview, referring to former Nazi concentration camps as possible accommodation for migrants, prompted public condemnation, complaints to the broadcasting regulator and prosecutorial proceedings. The station was also criticized for not clearly repudiating the remarks during or immediately after the broadcast.
2015
National Broadcasting Council criticism of election coverage
A National Broadcasting Council report on coverage of the 2015 election campaign identified materials in the Dzisiaj service among the most biased items examined in the review.
Marketing campaigns
- 2024House of Free Speech
Poland · Online
A self-promotional campaign presenting Telewizja Republika as a home for free expression. The spot featured prominent station journalists and was distributed on television and online, including YouTube.
Brand decisions
2024
Launch of Express Republiki and related programsProduct launchBackground
The influx of former public-television staff and the channel's audience growth increased the need for a broader daily news schedule.
Action taken
The station launched Express Republiki in February and added Po 9:00 and Express Plus in March.
Aftermath
The channel expanded its rolling-news and current-affairs lineup.
2024
Expansion into digital terrestrial broadcastingStrategyBackground
Satellite and internet distribution were supplemented by an opportunity to reach a wider Polish television audience through terrestrial transmission.
Action taken
The National Broadcasting Council granted the station an eighth-multiplex license, followed by test broadcasts and an official July launch.
Aftermath
The license was challenged in administrative court in 2025, and an appeal was announced.
2023
Intensify public-media crisis coverageStrategyBackground
Changes initiated at Polish public-media institutions in December 2023 created a major political and audience opportunity for a broadcaster aligned with the opposition Law and Justice camp.
Action taken
Telewizja Republika devoted extensive live and news coverage to events at Telewizja Polska, Polskie Radio and associated institutions.
Aftermath
The channel experienced a sharp increase in visibility and reported audience, while its political alignment became even more pronounced.
Sources1 sources
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