TV channels or families of channels with viewer ratings higher than 35% would face stern restrictions. Owners of such channels or groups of channels would be obliged to sell their channels within six months and reduce the combined viewer rating of their channels to below 35% or lower their ratings by changing their programming.

More generally, stricter rules would apply to any channel with annual viewer ratings above 10%, obliging commercial television stations to air more Hungarian films.

The draft also bans television channel operators from launching more channels, thereby blocking any expansion by TV2 and RTL Klub.

Advertising regulations would also be changed: unduly noisy commercials would be banned, but the ratio of advertising to programming would be loosened, allowing state media to show nine minutes of commercials every hour instead of six as at present. However, no advertising would be allowed on news, religious or children’s programming.

Protection of minors would be extended to the internet.

A finalised version of the concept could be submitted to Parliament later this month and approved later this year in a fast-track procedure."

Source: Hungary Around the Clock

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