Hungarian public media outlets long aligned with former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán have suspended broadcasting, following a decisive election victory by Péter Magyar's Tisza party in April. Magyar, who ousted Orbán in a landslide, hailed the move as the end of propaganda broadcasts.
Magyar Declares End of Propaganda
In a Facebook post, Magyar wrote: “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.” The suspension affected Kossuth radio and M1, Hungary's main public television channel. By Tuesday afternoon, M1 displayed a message: “Public media should not lie. We are sorry for doing it for so long.” It added that public media would be reformed to become independent and trustworthy, with news programmes temporarily suspended.
Kossuth radio's frequencies were broadcasting a Béla Bartók classical music programme, according to Agence France-Presse journalists, while the websites for M1 and Kossuth were down. The state media umbrella group MTVA confirmed that M1 television would resume broadcasting in the evening without news programmes, and other public service programmes would remain unaffected.
Orbán Reacts
Orbán responded on social media, calling the move “another example of Tisza tyranny” and suggesting viewers “interested in the truth” watch the Hír TV channel linked to his Fidesz party. Orbán's 16-year rule was marked by a tight grip on media, transforming Hungary into a self-styled “illiberal” democracy at odds with EU norms.
Magyar's Tisza party won a two-thirds supermajority in parliament on a promise of “regime change” and a clean break with the Orbán era. After the election, Magyar pledged to create “a truly balanced, objective news service.” One of his first decrees as prime minister ordered a “comprehensive and immediate” review of public service media and its financing. Tuesday's suspension came shortly after his government replaced the management of state TV and radio.
Broader Media Shake-Up
Beyond public media, the new administration has targeted private outlets owned by Orbán-allied business people. At TV2, one of Hungary's top private broadcasters, main news anchors have been replaced and its news director pushed out since Magyar's election victory. Under Orbán, an estimated 80% of the media landscape was controlled by Fidesz loyalists, including state media and private outlets, set against embattled independent media.
Hungary fell to 74th place in 2026 from 23rd in 2010 in Reporters Without Borders' press freedom index, as government efforts left swathes of the country in a parallel information reality. During the election campaign, state media demonised Magyar as a puppet of Brussels, an absentee father, and a traitor. As a candidate, he vowed to suspend state media coverage, describing it as a “factory of lies” akin to propaganda from North Korea and Nazi-era Germany.
Outlook for Media Landscape
Analysts suggest that several Fidesz-linked private media companies may survive the change of government due to their popularity, but their influence could be curtailed by increased competition and evolving editorial lines. The suspension of public media broadcasts marks a significant shift in Hungary's information environment, as the new government seeks to dismantle Orbán's control over media.
