Hungary

[HU] First steps towards implementation of media law

IRIS 1996-7:1/28

András Szekfü

Szignum Média Bt. Natali Helberger, Institut for European Media Law (EMR)

In IRIS 1996-1 : 14 and 1996-3 : 15, we reported on the coming into force of the new Hungarian Radio and Television Act of 1 February 1996.

The act means that Hungary too now has a dual broadcasting system. State broadcasting authorities must be converted into public law institutions, and commercial broadcasting bodies (some are already operating) brought into line with the new legislation. New supervisory bodies have been elected for Hungarian Radio and Television and for the Duna satellite service. They have advertised the directorships of the various institutions and have already filled some of the posts.

The next step will probably be for the National Radio and Television Corporation ( Országos Radió-Televisió Testület, ORTT) to advertise the frequencies currently used by the second Hungarian channel (MTV2), thus opening the way to privatization. But it will be 1997 at the earliest, before nationwide commercial channels become operational.