Key facts
- Hungarian public media outlets Kossuth radio and M1 TV have suspended broadcasts.
- The reform is intended to create independent and trustworthy public media.
- A message displayed on M1 stated, 'Public media should not lie. We are sorry for doing it for so long.'
- Prime Minister Péter Magyar hailed the move as the end of propaganda broadcasts.
- Former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán criticized the action as 'Tisza tyranny'.
Hungarian public media outlets, previously seen as mouthpieces for Viktor Orbán's government, have suspended broadcasting. Prime Minister Péter Magyar, who ousted Orbán in a recent landslide election, announced the move, hailing it as the end of propaganda and the beginning of reforms to create an independent and trustworthy public media.
Key broadcasters like Kossuth radio and M1 television ceased transmissions, with M1 showing a message stating, "Public media should not lie. We are sorry for doing it for so long. Public media now will be reformed so it will be independent and trustworthy. Our news programme is currently suspended. Stay tuned!" Kossuth radio was reportedly broadcasting classical music, and the websites for both outlets were down.