WARSAW (CWNews.com) - Several large, Polish companies will provide backing for a new Catholic Church-sponsored family television network, the firms announced today.

    The state-owned firms, including copper giant KGHM, oil group PKN, the Polish Power Grid (PSE), and life insurer PZU Zycie, said they will invest 120 million zloty (US$29.35 million) to TV Familijna, co-owned by a local Franciscan order.

    "Good, decent, family television is treated as a niche investment," PSE's Chief Executive Krzysztof Zmijewski told a news conference. "But there is a large group of people who listen to normal music, read normal newspapers and will want to watch normal television. And I, as a head of one of the firms investing in Familijna, want to profit from this."

    The station plans to begin broadcasting in late 2000 and plans to focus on family-friendly programming reflecting Catholic values. Officials said TV Familijna will not accept advertising for contraceptives or other morally-illicit products, but will accept most other forms of advertising.