politics
Hungarian Public Broadcasters Suspend News Programs After Management Change
State-run radio and television channels halted news broadcasts Tuesday following a leadership overhaul at Hungary’s public media. The outlets displayed an on-screen apology and said programming would resume without news segments.
Jul 7, 1:19 PM·1m read3 sources
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Hungary’s main public radio and television channels suspended news programming Tuesday after new management took over at the state media umbrella group. Kossuth radio and M1 television stopped transmitting regular content by Tuesday afternoon. M1 displayed a message on a black screen stating the outlets would be reformed to become independent and trustworthy.
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The M1 message read: “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. ” Kossuth radio switched to a classical music program featuring Béla Bartók compositions, while the websites for both outlets went offline.
The state media group said M1 would resume evening broadcasts without news segments and that other public-service programs would continue.
The new prime minister described the day as marking the end of propaganda broadcasts and said the outlets had lied across all time slots. The previous government had maintained tight control over public media during its 16-year tenure. The new administration replaced the management of state television and radio shortly before the suspensions.
It has also directed changes at private broadcasters previously aligned with the former ruling party, including replacement of news anchors at one major outlet.
