THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

'We will immediately suspend public media news broadcasts' - Hungary's ... SHARE In a remarkable post on X, Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar said that once his Tisza party wins the upcoming election in April against incumbent Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, that he will immediately suspend all public media news broadcasts. “After the change of government, we will immediately suspend public media news broadcasts until the conditions for objective and impartial operation are in place,” wrote Magyar on X. After the change of government, we will immediately suspend public media news broadcasts until the conditions for objective and impartial operation are in place. — Magyar Péter (Ne féljetek) (@magyarpeterMP) February 7, 2026 Magyar’s declaration reveals the zero-sum game seen in many European countries, where the right loses power and is immediately subjected to all the “illiberal” practices the left accuses the right of. In Poland, for example, after Prime Minister Donald Tusk won, the police raided public media buildings and shut them down in dramatic fashion. Poland is seen as the template in many respects for the Hungarian opposition. In that country, many within the former…

Hungary public media reform begins with black screen apology People tuning in to public service media in Hungary on Tuesday were greeted by a black screen and an apology. Peter Magyar has begun dismantling one of Viktor Orban's most potent tools of power.

Hungarian public media outlets halt broadcasting in post-Orbán shake-up <p>Péter Magyar hails ‘end of propaganda broadcasts’ as Kossuth radio and M1 TV channels suspend transmission</p><p>Hungarian public media outlets close to Viktor Orbán have suspended broadcasting, the country’s prime minister said as he hailed efforts to dismantle the longtime nationalist leader’s control over information.</p><p>Péter Magyar, who ousted Orbn in a landslide election victory in April, wrote on Facebook: “A historic day. Today marks the end of propaganda broadcasts on public media platforms. They lied at night, they lied during the day, they lied on every wavelength. That is now over.”</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/07/hungary-public-media-tv-radio-suspend-broadcasting-viktor-orban-peter-magyar">Continue reading...</a>

Magyar's first target: Hungary's state-controlled media - POLITICO Hungarian Prime Minister-elect Péter Magyar used landmark appearances on state-controlled media outlets on Wednesday to reaffirm his intention to suspend their broadcasts as soon as he’s sworn in. Over the course of his 16-year reign, outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán gradually took over 80 percent of the Hungarian media. That dominance was cited as a major issue in EU investigations into the country’s democratic backsliding. During an interview on the state-controlled M1 television network, Magyar labeled the broadcaster a “factory of lies” and promised to “immediately suspend the false news service that is operating here.” Advertisement In a separate appearance on Kossuth state radio, he declared “every Hungarian deserves a public service media that broadcasts the truth.” As a result of the government’s dominant role in the media, many Hungarians — especially those in the country’s rural areas — only heard or saw coverage curated by the ruling Fidesz party. Magyar himself avoided speaking to state-controlled outlets ahead of the Hungarian election, which he won on Sunday. “After a year and a half, I am back in…

Hungary: Black screen heralds start of public media overhaul People tuning in to public service media in Hungary on Tuesday were greeted by a black screen and an apology. Peter Magyar has begun dismantling one of Viktor Orban's most potent tools of power.

Fidesz calls fresh anti-government protest after Hungary's public ... News Politics Fidesz calls fresh anti-government protest after Hungary’s public broadcaster suspends news Hetzmann Mercédesz Published: 1h ago Kategóriák: Politics Hungarian politics Photo: Facebook/Orbán Viktor Hungary’s opposition Fidesz has announced a new demonstration in Budapest following the dramatic suspension of news broadcasts on the country’s public media channels, with former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán urging supporters to “peacefully raise our voices against authoritarian rule.” The protest comes just hours after M1 suspended its news service and Kossuth Radio halted its regular programming as Hungary’s newly appointed public media leadership started the overhaul of the state broadcaster. Fidesz-backed group calls demonstration outside MTVA headquarters According to 444.hu , the protest was organised for 7:00 PM on Tuesday outside the MTVA headquarters on Kunigunda Road by Védvonal, a civic organisation founded by Fidesz. Following the suspension of M1’s news broadcasts, the privately owned Hír TV declared that it had become “the only remaining television voice of the Hungarian right.” “Our voice w…

Hungarian State Media Faces Reforms Amid Editorial Freedom ... Published byGlobal Banking & Finance Review Posted on April 16, 2026 · Last updated: April 16, 2026 By Krisztina Than BUDAPEST, April 16 (Reuters) - Over 90 journalists from Hungarian state news agency MTI have demanded the immediate restoration of impartial news coverage following election winner Peter Magyar's pledge to shake up state media, according to a letter obtained by Reuters. Magyar, whose centre-right TISZA party ​scored ⁠a landslide victory ⁠in ​Sunday's ​elections​, said ⁠his ​government will ​suspend the news broadcast ​of ​public state media ‌until ⁠unbiased news coverage ​can ​be ⁠ensured as part of wider ​moves to restore press freedoms. Critics at home and abroad have said Hungarian state media ⁠news broadcasts became a government mouthpiece under Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose government gradually shaped public media to its mould after being voted into office in 2010. "Our goal is that the editorial autonomy of the national news agency should be restored," the journalists wrote in the letter dated April 15. "So that again we could decide which events we report about, and how the coverage s…

Hungary's Major State-run Media Outlets Apologized For "years Of Lies ... The country's Prime Minister, Péter Magyar, called it a historic day. The main news portal and official website of the Hungarian public broadcaster MTVA have suspended operations following a decision by the country’s new leadership. This is due to accusations that it has engaged in years of propaganda in support of the country’s former prime minister Viktor Orbán , according to Bloomberg . A statement has appeared on the broadcaster’s website in which MTVA apologizes for its editorial policy under Orbán. “Public media should not lie. We apologize for having done so for many years! Public media is currently undergoing a transformation to become independent and trustworthy in the future. News service has been temporarily suspended. Stay tuned!” the broadcaster’s website states. Hungary’s new prime minister Péter Magyar called the suspension of the broadcaster’s operations a “historic day.” “Today marks the end of propaganda broadcasts in the media. They lied at night, they lied during the day, they lied on every frequency. Now it’s all over,” he added. Magyar was elected prime minister on May 9. Orbán served a…

Hungarian public media outlets halt broadcasting in post-Orbán shake-up ... Hungarian public media outlets close to Viktor Orbán have suspended broadcasting, the country’s prime minister said as he hailed efforts to dismantle the longtime nationalist leader’s control over information. Péter Magyar, who ousted Orbn in a landslide election victory in April, wrote on Facebook: “A historic day. Today marks the end of propaganda broadcasts on public media platforms. They lied at night, they lied during the day, they lied on every wavelength. That is now over.” A tight grip on the media was a central pillar of Orbán’s 16-year rule, during which he transformed the central European country into a self-styled “illiberal” democracy, pitting it against EU norms. The Kossuth radio station and M1, Hungary’s main public television channel, had halted transmission by Tuesday afternoon, with the latter showing the message: “Public media should not lie. We are sorry for doing it for so long. “Public media now will be reformed so it will be independent and trustworthy. Our news programme is currently suspended. Stay tuned!” it added against a black screen. Kossuth radio’s frequencies were broadcast…

Hungary pro-Orban public media halt broadcasting: Magyar The new government has moved swiftly to undo the former leader's grip, including with a swath of anti-corruption measures and constitutional changes to effectively bar him from running again. BUDAPEST, Hungary (AFP) — Hungarian public broadcasters close to Viktor Orban have halted broadcasting as part of efforts to undo the longtime nationalist leader’s hold on the media, Prime Minister Peter Magyar said Tuesday. Control of the media was a key pillar of Orban’s 16-year rule, during which he transformed the central European country into a self-styled “illiberal” democracy. Restoring the independence of Hungary’s public broadcasters was a key campaign promise for Magyar, who ousted Orban as prime minister at the ballot box in April. “A historic day. Today marks the end of propaganda broadcasts on public media platforms,” Magyar said on Facebook. “They lied at night, they lied during the day, they lied on every wavelength. That is now over,” he said. Both the Kossuth radio station and M1, the main public television channel in Hungary, had halted transmission by Tuesday afternoon. The latter showed a black screen with the…

Hungary's pro-Orban public media halt broadcasting - RTÉ Updated / Tuesday, 7 Jul 2026 20:29 The headquarters of Hungary's state media umbrella group, MTVA Hungarian public broadcasters close to Viktor Orban have halted broadcasting as part of efforts to undo the longtime nationalist leader's hold on the media, Prime Minister Peter Magyar has said. Control of the media was a key pillar of Mr Orban's 16-year rule, during which he transformed the central European country into a self-styled "illiberal" democracy. Restoring the independence of Hungary's public broadcasters was a key campaign promise for Mr Magyar, who ousted Orban as prime minister at the ballot box in April. Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar (L) and former prime minister Viktor Orbán (R) "A historic day. Today marks the end of propaganda broadcasts on public media platforms," Mr Magyar said on Facebook. "They lied at night, they lied during the day, they lied on every wavelength. That is now over," he said. Both the Kossuth radio station and M1, the main public television channel in Hungary, had halted transmission by this afternoon. The latter showed a black screen with the message: "Public m…