Hungary's Pro‑government Megafon propaganda outlet to cease operations as last staff depart

Media1 reported that the Megafon platform – a Fidesz‑aligned online propaganda outlet – will effectively shut down when the contract of its last employee ends on Friday, 26 June. The closure follows a group lay‑off that affected roughly 55–57 staff members in two waves (21 June and 26 June) after a mass redundancy was announced on 21 May.

The organisation’s offices have been cleared and its furniture and equipment sold, including assets of the affiliated Digital Sovereignty Center. The Patriota YouTube channel, which still has about 300 000 subscribers, remains operational but its future is uncertain.

Internal communications indicated optimism on the night of the April 12 election defeat, with founder Dukász Magor telling staff the outlet would continue. However, subsequent meetings revealed a shift toward cost‑cutting and possible community‑funding. The shutdown reflects financial strain after the ruling party’s electoral loss; although the company posted a profit in 2025, revenues fell sharply.

Actor Tamás Lengyel publicly criticised the outlet, calling it “rotten” and questioning the source of its funding. The termination of Megafon marks the end of a major vehicle for government propaganda that had been built up since 2020.