• 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

Lazar is Gearing Up to Replace Orban Amid Panic Within Fidesz, Says Magyar on ATV

• 16 Dec 2024 3:49 PM

Janos Lazar has begun to jockey for a position to take over the place of Viktor Orban in Fidesz one day, as panic begins to be predominant within the governing party, Tisza party leader Peter Magyar alleged on ATV on Tuesday evening.



Watch: Zelensky Blasts Hungary's Viktor Orban for Discussing War on Call with Putin

• 16 Dec 2024 10:04 AM

Russia has accused Ukraine of using Western-made missiles to attack a military field located in the country's southwestern region. The Russian defence ministry said Kyiv fired at least six ATACMS supplied by the United States. Moscow has vowed revenge for the airstrike, saying the long-range missile attack will not go unanswered. Meanwhile, Putin discussed his ongoing war on a call with Hungarian PM Viktor Orban.



Orbán & Putin Hold Fresh Talks - Details Revealed

• 12 Dec 2024 7:05 AM

Prime Minister Viktor Orban spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone on Wednesday, the PM’s press chief said in a statement.



Pope Receives Orban in Vatican

• 5 Dec 2024 5:20 AM

Pope Francis received Prime Minister Viktor Orban in an audience at the Vatican in Rome this Wednesday - as the video below shows. They discussed the war in Ukraine, focusing on the humanitarian situation and efforts to promote peace in the region. Francis also discussed other themes, including the Hungarian presidency of the Council of the European Union as well as the "central role of the family and the protection of the young generations," the Vatican said in a statement.