Hungary MTVA Relaunch After Orbán Exit Ends Media Control

• Hungary's state broadcaster MTVA suspended its news programs in July after parliament passed a media reform bill.
• The new government, led by Prime Minister Peter Magyar, has vowed to change the system and return to democratic norms.
• MTVA employed over 2,000 people and received lavish taxpayer funding under the previous administration.
• Private media companies are also feeling the effects of the change in administration, with several newspapers ceasing print editions.

After the election, most of us felt liberated. Political control ceased; we could talk about facts, quote both sides, it felt incredible.

Hungary's state broadcaster MTVA suspended its news programs in July, just two weeks after parliament passed a media reform bill. The move was seen as a significant shift away from the previous government's control over state media. Under the new administration, led by Prime Minister Peter Magyar, there has been a vow to change the system and return to democratic norms. MTVA employed over 2,000 people and received lavish taxpayer funding, with its newsroom echoing the government's narratives. However, after the election, many employees felt liberated from political control and were able to discuss facts and quote both sides for the first time.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has described Hungary's media landscape under former Premier Viktor Orbán as 'one of the most sophisticated systems of media capture ever seen in the European Union.' During his 16-year rule, Orbán targeted journalists and news outlets, tightening control over state media. The new government's media reform bill aims to address these issues, but its implementation is still unclear. Lawyers and compliance officers should be watching for potential implications on cross-border broadcasting and content regulation. The relaunch of MTVA is slated for later this month, with several insiders anticipating a return of TV news broadcasting on August 20.

The changes in Hungary's media landscape have significant implications for press freedom and the role of state media. The suspension of MTVA's news programs has left many employees anxious about their jobs, but also hopeful that they can finally serve the public. Private media companies are also feeling the effects of the change in administration, with Mediaworks firing 200 staff members and several newspapers ceasing print editions. The new government's commitment to press freedom reforms is a welcome shift, but its implementation will be crucial in determining the future of Hungary's media landscape.

Lawyers and compliance officers should watch for potential implications of Hungary's new media landscape on cross-border broadcasting and content regulation, particularly in light of the country's recent media reform bill.

Source: Original reporting via AFP