Hungarian Media Monitor

Media Council warns national TV station for describing Jobbik as 'far right' party

March 9, 2013
Hungarian Media Monitor
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Hungary's Media Council has issued a warning to national private broadcaster ATV for describing Jobbik as a "far-right" party in a November newscast. Jobbik is Hungary's third-largest party and espouses a far-right nationalist platform. ATV was reporting on a demonstration against a Jobbik MP who called for making lists of Jews in Hungary because he said they pose risks to national security. The Media Council will issue a fine to the private broadcaster if it continues to describe Jobbik as "far right," according to reports. 

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Vodaphone deal -

March 8, 2013
Hungarian Media Monitor
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The Hungarian Government would pay up to EUR 200 million to by Vodaphone Hungary, according to a report HVG. Gov’t would pay €200mn for Vodafone The government would be willing to pay up to €200 million to buy the Hungarian subsidiary of Vodafone, a source told HVG. The mobile-phone operator has rejected reports of such a sale, which first appeared in late January on high-tech website hwsw.hu.

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Pro-government newspaper editor rallies

March 8, 2013
Hungarian Media Monitor
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Protesters besiege Fidesz HQ in protest against “fourth amendment” Several dozen young people protesting against the planned fourth amendment to the Basic Law broke into the garden of Fidesz headquarters on Thursday afternoon. Some of the 50-60 mostly young univer- sity students climbed over the fence and at- tempted to enter the office building, but were stopped by security guards. Fidesz said they broke windows and damaged a door at the Lendvay utca building, causing Ft 500,000 worth of damage.

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Court rules Media Council's Klubrádió tender decision unlawful

March 7, 2013
Hungarian Media Monitor
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Opposition radio station Klubrádió has won another court victory against Hungary’s media regulator when a Budapest court ruled on March 5 that the Media Council’s decision invalidating the station’s tender application was unlawful. The decision is one of a series of successful court verdicts for Klubrádió, in what has become a lengthy battle by the station to keep its 95.3 MHz frequency. In the latest decision, the court ruled the Media Council’s failure to complete the tender procedure could be unconstitutional, according to the Associated Press.

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Council of Europe aims to push for more amendments to media laws

March 6, 2013
Hungarian Media Monitor
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The Council of Europe plans to continue its negotiations with Hungarian officials in order to bring the media laws in compliance with Council of Europe freedom of expression standards, according to a letter from Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland to a group of domestic NGOS. The letter states that the Council of Europe officials have asked Hungarian authorities for another round of cooperation following discussions this January that led to an agreement to make some modifications of the media laws. Once the Hungarian Government agrees to the proposed cooperation, the Council of Europe says it plans to involve additional stakeholders to participate in the discussions.

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