Public media staff are considering a strike by early January after the Media Services and Asset Management Fund (MTVA), the body that manages state-owned media, fails to reach an agreement with unions over coming layoffs, according to reports.
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Ringier steps back from selling majority share in Népszabadság
Private multinational publisher Ringier failed in its effort to sell its share of Hungary’s largest circulation daily newspaper, Népszabadság, to a group owned by the Socialist Party. Since no deal could be negotiated, Ringier keeps its 70.77 percent ownership of the paper, and the group called Free Press (Szabad Sajtó), which was established by the […]
Utility tax may end internet and cable service in poorer settlements
A new tax on public utilities could mean the cessation of cable TV and internet service in more than 28,000 households in Hungary’s poorest and smallest settlements. According to news reports, the structure of the public utility tax means that internet providers find it unprofitable to service smaller, poorer communities, which means that many households […]
New CEO appointed at MTI news agency
István Galambos was appointed the CEO of the Hungarian-owned news agency MTI, and will take over the position on January 1, 2013, according to a December 12 announcement by the Media Services and Asset Management Fund (MTVA), the body responsible for managing Hungary’s public media.
Media Council asks for clarification after CoE criticism
In response to a statement from the Council of Europe criticizing the appointment procedures of Hungary’s Media Council for failing to meet European standards, Media Council spokeswoman Karola Kiricsi sent a letter to Daniel Holtgen, the spokesperson of the Council of Europe’s Secretary General, asking for guidance.
Demonstration outside MTVA building marks a year
Protest organizer Balázs Nagy Navarro and his fellow demonstrators marked a year of protest outside the headquarters of the Media Services and Asset Management Fund (MTVA) at Kunigunda útja in Buda.
Danko Radio to help replace lost regional radio programs
After shutting down its regional production studios, the Media Services and Asset Management Fund (MTVA), the body in charge of managing public media, has announced an effort to replace the programs with a new radio station, called Danko Radio, which broadcasts to the residents of the Hungarian countryside. The new station, which is to begin […]
CoE calls for changes in Media Council and media law
The Council of Europe criticized the procedures for nomination and appointment of the president of Hungary’s Media Council, saying it does not meet European standards, according to Daniel Holtgen the spokesperson of Thorbjorn Jagland, the Council of Europe’s Secretary General.
Journalist union blasts public TV for ignoring anti-Nazi rally
In a Klubrádió interview, the president of the Association of Hungarian Journalists (MÚOSZ) said that the public media should have reported on a December 2 demonstration in Budapest against neo-Nazism.
Local government seeks to dump paper that took paid ad from Socialists criticizing Orbán
According to Médiajogfigyelő (Media Law Monitor), the Fidesz-majority local council of Szombathely voted to immediately cancel the contract with the private company publishing the local government’s newspaper after the newspaper printed an advertisement critical of Fidesz Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and party-affiliated businessman Lajos Simicska. The mayor of Szombathely claimed the advertisement was in violation […]
