Changes will step into effect from 1 March.

The television channel will imitate BBC in terms of thematics and its programme structure will resemble CNN, the statement reads. Before M1 will go off air at night, a new, English-language news programme will be broadcasted, which will be the first daily news programme aired by any Hungarian channel.

Beside news on the hour, M1 will broadcast background reports and magazine programmes in a structure of five live programme blocks from five studios. Structural changes will be accompanied by the adoption of new imagery; last year, MTVA commissioned British expert Simon Jago, who has previously worked for BBC World News and Al Jazeera, to carry out the task.

Duna TV is to become the flagship national television channel; in the future, it will be broadcasted not only over satellite but also over surface digital broadcast – popular programmes featured on the channel will include Sándor Fábry’s comedy show and the world-famous Hungarian documentary series On the Spot. Duna will also broadcast major sports events until M4, the new state sports channel, will be launched.

M1, M2, Duna and M4 will all be included in the digital basics package, meaning that they will be available to viewers free of charge.

In December 2012, the M2 public television channel was transformed into a thematic channel broadcasting programmes for children; one year later, the establishment of M3 Anno, which airs programmes from state media archives, was launched.

Source: hungarytoday.hu