The launch of Newsmax Polska television in April has sparked reactions and debate in Poland, particularly due to allegations that the medium is part of a wider regional media network with ties to Serbia.
According to Polish media reports, Newsmax Polska was created as part of the Newsmax Balkans network, which is allegedly operated by the Serbian state-owned telecommunications company Telekom Srbija.
This company is seen by critics as one of the main vehicles for expanding Serbia’s media influence in European markets. Through the acquisition of existing platforms and the creation of new media, Telekom Srbija is said to be gradually building a wide information network abroad.
According to observers, some of these media outlets have editorial lines that often align with pro-Russian narratives and skeptical attitudes towards the European Union, raising concerns about their influence on the European public space.
In Poland, one of the main concerns is related to allegations that Newsmax Polska may promote content with pro-Russian leanings and messages close to the MAGA political movement in the United States.
Critics have also raised questions about Telekom Srbija’s role in the European media market, claiming that the company has not fully followed the European Union’s approach to Russian state-linked media outlets, such as Sputnik and Russia Today, as it continues its expansion into the information sector. /Telegraph