Media pluralism is in the centre of political controversy, receiving international attention. The ruling power asserts that all constitutional and European norms are observed and claims about a balanced offer. As to critics, some of the main arguments are as follows:
- All five members of the top authority Media Council are selected by Fidesz, the ruling party, and are appointed for nine years
- Important independent media outlets have been liquidated or coerced into serving the government
- Public service media allow minimum space to voice other than the government
- Most advertisements from the state and its enterprises go to pro-government media
- Government advertisements absorb exceptionally high share of the budget, and their content is propaganda rather than information, creating an air of permanent campaign for the ruling party
Some of these critical points are touched upon in the 2024 Rule of Law Report of the European Commission: “The threats to media pluralism highlighted in previous rule of law reports remain unaddressed. Measures to regulate the channelling of state advertising to media organs, to guarantee the functional independence of the media authority and the editorial and financial independence of public service media have not been adopted and are not envisaged. Journalists and independent media organs continue to face several challenges, including seemingly coordinated smear and delegitimisation campaigns and selective access to government premises and events. Further legislative changes have introduced restrictions on freedom of information” – from the Hungarian country chapter of the 2024 Rule of Law Report.
The legal fundament of the media is the Act on Media Services and Mass Media (CLXXXV/2010). The highest-level competence is embodied in the Media Council. Its chairperson is the CEO of the National Media and Infocommunication Authority which carries out the regulation and supervision of public and private media in the country.
Public media, including the National Radio, the National Television and the Hungarian Press Agency, are governed by a body called the Public Service Body (Közszolgálati Testület).
Public TV broadcasts on six channels, while public radio uses seven channels. Their main source is the (generous) state budget.
The long-term licences of private – commercial and community – channels are awarded by way of public tenders, submissions are evaluated and decided by the Media Council. All media service providers must abide by the programme quotas in the Media Act.
Linear audio-visual media (television) must broadcast European works in over 50%, and Hungarian works in over 33% of their time, and at least 10% of European, and at least 8% of Hungarian works must be ordered from independent producers; On-demand media the minimum quota is 25% European and 10% Hungarian works; and public media must broadcast European works in over 60%, and Hungarian works in over 50% of their time, and at least 15% of these must be ordered from independent producers;
Radio stations must broadcast Hungarian musical works in at least 35% of time, at least 25% of which should be more recent than 5 years old.
Complementing the above measures that protect Hungarian culture, at one point the Media Act promotes cultural diversity: “Linear media service providers with significant market power shall ensure that at least one quarter of the cinematographic works and film series originally produced in a language other than Hungarian, broadcast between 7 pm and 11 pm, shall be available in their original language, with Hungarian subtitles.”
Despite the advances of the Internet, about half of Hungarians still regularly watches television, especially the two leading commercial channels. The four channels of the national television (this includes a sport channel) and a variety of thematic, movie and entertainment channels are lagging behind.
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