• Home
• Channel: Current Affairs
• Video: Government-Critical Media To Close

Video: Government-Critical Media To Close

• 10 Apr 2018 3:31 PM
• Budapest Business Journal

Magyar Nemzet, the broadsheet daily newspaper founded 80 years ago which has become increasingly critical of the government in recent times, will close down on Wednesday, reportedly due to a lack of funds. Radio station Lánchíd Rádió, belonging to the same media group, will also shut down, according to reports.

Magyar Nemzet and Lánchíd Rádió both belong to businessman Lajos Simicska, a former friend and ally of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

The two parted ways acrimoniously in early 2015, and the media controlled by Simicska, until then openly pro-government, became critical of Orbán and the ruling parties, Fidesz and the Christian Democrats (KDNP).

Shortly after the break-down of the relationship, state advertisements in Simicska-owned media disappeared and subscriptions dropped abruptly.

Within one year, Magyar Nemzet, Lánchíd Rádió and other media outlets faced severe financing problems, accumulating significant losses by 2018.

On Tuesday, officials of the media portfolio announced that both the online and print editions of Magyar Nemzet will close down, with the last issue to be published tomorrow, April 11.

According to insider information released by online news portal index.hu, the Hír TV television news channel - which likewise shifted its sympathies away from Fidesz after Simicskaʼs falling out with Orbán - will perform significant cost cuts, while weekly political magazine Heti Válasz must look for a new investor, otherwise it may also be closed.

• How does this content make you feel?
• I love it
• I like it
• I dislike it

• Government Critical Media Magyar Nemzet Lánchíd Rádió Lajos Simicska PM Orbán

XpatLoop Media Partner

Budapest Business Journal

Hungary's largest and oldest source of business and financial news in English. Since 1992 it has presented essential information on Hungarian business life, including international analyses about the country. These days the BBJ newspaper is published every other week, while it releases daily business news online including premium paid content.

Explore More Reports

Hungarian Opinion on Péter Magyar, Ex-Husband of Former Justice Minister

• 11 Apr 2024 2:55 PM

Weekly newspapers were already on the stands when tens of thousands of people attended the 15 March rally where Péter Magyar, the divorced husband of former justice minister Judit Varga announced his plan to set up a new centrist party. This week, most commentators express scepticism about his initiative.



Vast Majority of Hungarians Oppose Sending European Troops to Ukraine - New Survey Reveals

• 22 Mar 2024 7:39 AM

Fully 86% of Hungarians oppose sending European or NATO troops to Ukraine, according to a fresh survey by pollster Századvég, which said that several European leaders had recently “joined in on the war rhetoric of French President Emmanuel Macron”, proposing that European countries should support Ukraine in the war against Russia by sending troops of their own to the conflict.



Orbán Congratulates Putin on Re-Election - What Did His Letter Contain?

• 22 Mar 2024 7:03 AM

Following the publication of the official results of the Russian presidential election, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán sent a letter to President Vladimir Putin to congratulate him on his recent re-election, the prime minister’s press chief said.



March 15 National Holiday: Speech by Orbán to Be Held at Hungarian National Museum

• 8 Mar 2024 7:28 AM

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán will give a speech at the Hungarian National Museum on March 15, Hungary’s national holiday, the state secretary for international communication and relations said.