[REVISION HISTORY]

Hungary MTVA overhaul continues, M1 news resumes Aug 20

Updated 14 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-23 06:13 UTC → 2026-08-25 09:03 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Since interim management took over Hungary’s public media on 7 July, the organization has pursued an aggressive cost-cutting programme, reporting nearly 7 billion forints saved in the first two weeks. On 26 July, MTVA began a 90-day transition to merge into Duna Media Nonprofit Zrt, ending a dual institutional structure that had existed for over 15 years. This integration has led to more than 40 employees being placed on paid leave, while the broadcaster reported approximately 3 billion forints in savings by halting external programme production. The transition follows the suspension of MTVA’s news programming on 7 July, an action taken after the broadcaster stated it had “lied for years” under the previous 16-year administration of Viktor Orbán. Following the April election of pro-European Prime Minister Péter Magyar, the restructuring continues. Duna Médiaszolgáltató Nonprofit Zrt. is conducting a comprehensive audit of the public media, examining economic and legal issues alongside the backgrounds of those involved in previous propaganda operations. As part of this investigation, several employees—including leaders at MTI and staff from Kossuth Rádió—have been suspended for 30 days with pay. Management has noted that depending on audit findings, employment may be terminated or legal action pursued. On 20 August, Duna Médiaszolgáltató Nonprofit Zrt. officially resumed the M1 news program, Híradó, ending a 44-day hiatus. The relaunch featured holiday programming and coverage of the inauguration of President András Baka. However, the restart has faced scrutiny. Politician Balázs Németh alleged that the first broadcast was produced by former staff members from the previous era, citing a photograph of the M1 control room posted by Duna TV director Ádám Szeleczky. Németh asserted that the individual in the editor’s chair is a long-time professional who has worked on M1 news for many years. ~~This contradicts statements from news director Balázs Bodacz, who told Telex that no former M1 employees participated in the production.~~

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