Twenty-four programmes of twenty-one radio stations to receive grants amounting to nearly HUF 75 million
At its weekly session, the Media Council of the National Media and Infocommunications Authority (NMHH) has decided to provide grants for twenty-four programmes of twenty-one commercial, community and small-community radio stations in a total amount of nearly HUF 75 million. The Council has determined the winner of a Kecskemét frequency tender.
Twenty-four programmes to be produced from nearly HUF 75 million
Twenty-four programmes of thirteen commercial, five community and three small-community radios will receive grants amounting to HUF 74.7 million from the Media Council in the first round of the 2020 tender for the production of news, thematic and public interest infotainment programmes. Grants for news programmes were provided to Kunság Rádió, FM95 – Rádió 1 Debrecen, 90.6 Rádió 1 of Pécs, Gong Rádió of Kecskemét, Rádió Antritt of Szekszárd, CREDO Rádió of Szombathely, Európa Rádió of Debrecen and Nyíregyháza, Sárvár Rádió, as well as Trend FM, SOLA Rádió and Sláger FM of Budapest. The successful applicants of the public interest infotainment programme category include Rádió 88 of Szeged, Rábaköz Rádió FM 94.5, Bajai Rádió, Rádió Törökszentmiklós, Egerszeg Rádió, Gong FM of Kecskemét, Berettyó Rádió, Európa Rádió of Nyíregyháza, Cegléd Rádió and Tamási Rádió. Mária Rádió of Veszprém and Radio Monošter of Szentgotthárd received grants for the production of thematic infotainment programmes.
Decisions concerning radio frequencies
The Media Council closed the tender procedure for the community use of radio frequency with regional coverage area Kecskemét 97.7 MHz with Karc FM Média Kft. as the winner.
The Council completed the formal review of the tender procedure for the community use of local frequency Székesfehérvár 99.2 MHz and called on the sole bidder, Fehérvár Médiacentrum Kft., to supply some missing information.
Inquiry into a report on the violation of human dignity and incitement of hatred
The Media Council will not initiate proceedings against the service provider of Hír TV based on a report, as the 18 March broadcast of the programme Keménymag did not infringe upon human dignity. The offensive, derogatory remarks of the programme’s participants made in relation to certain journalists could possibly serve as the basis of individual legal claims, yet beyond this, no infringement has taken place which would necessitate any action on behalf of the authority in order to protect public interests. The claim of incitement of hatred indicated in the report cannot be examined in merit as this can only arise in relation to a community protected by law, which could not be identified in the review of the programme. However, the Media Council did note that the fact that no legal infringement has taken place which might serve as the basis of legal proceedings does not imply that the Council agrees with the views aired in the programme; to the contrary, the Media Council does not feel that public discourse should stoop so low as to resort to such vulgar language.
The full agenda of the Media Council’s weekly sessions can be found on the Board’s website, along with the minutes of the meetings and all decisions taken; the latest decisions will be published after the necessary validation and administration period.