Hungarian public broadcasters suspend news programs after management change

Hungarian public media outlets suspended news broadcasts on Tuesday afternoon after new management took over state television and radio. Kossuth radio replaced its programming with classical music, while M1 television displayed a message stating that public media should not lie and that its news service was suspended.

The M1 message added that reforms would make the service independent and trustworthy.

Management and programming changes A state media umbrella group statement said M1 would resume broadcasting in the evening without news programs. Other public service programs remain unaffected by the changes. The prime minister described the suspensions as the end of propaganda broadcasts on public media platforms.

The previous government had maintained control over state media during its 16-year tenure.

Political reactions The former prime minister posted on social media that the suspensions represented an example of tyranny and directed viewers to a private channel linked to his party. The new administration replaced the management of state television and radio shortly before the suspensions occurred.

It has also replaced news anchors and the news director at one private broadcaster since the April election.