The Media Council has finalised and will publish the invitation to tender on its website on 16 October for the community use of the Zalaegerszeg 104.4 MHz local and Nyíregyháza 106.8 MHz regional frequencies. Bids may be submitted on 17 November and 25 November, respectively.

At the service provider’s request, as of 1 December, the board has authorised the commercial Kunság Rádió, operating on the Kiskőrös 97.0 MHz local frequency, to continue broadcasting under the name Rádió 97.

Due to a loss in revenues as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, upon request, the Authority has authorised the service providers of Retro Rádió and Sláger FM to settle their fourth-quarter media service provision fees in three monthly instalments instead of a single payment.

Review of citizens’ complaints

The Media Council adopted decisions in relation to four citizens’ complaints One of the complainants objected to the low age rating of the 15 September broadcast of the programme Balázsék on Rádió 1, in which they discussed insurance fraud, amongst other things. The board established that the discussion portrayed fraud in negative terms as an example that is to be avoided, the presenters did not highlight any details and directly reminded listeners on two occasions to avoid trying to make money this way. The 12-16 year target age group was capable of interpreting the sarcastic humour of the programme correctly, therefore the board did not initiate any proceedings.

However, the Media Council did initiate proceedings based on another broadcast of the programme on 2 July, as it contained direct sexual references which conveyed distorted behavioral and relationship patterns in a programme with an age rating of not recommended under 12 years of age.

The Media Council also examined the 10 September broadcast of the programme A Konyhafőnök, in which one of the complainants objected to the remark “I’ll kill you” made in tense situations. The Media Council established that there was no content that represented a real threat in the statement in question and this was comprehensible for minors, therefore there was no need to provide a higher age rating than 12 years of age.

Based on a report, the board examined the 24 September broadcast of the programme Megbeszéljük on Klubrádió. According to the complainant, one of the caller’s remarks incited hatred and were discriminatory against the Székely people and Attila Vidnyánszky. The Media Council initiated proceeding to examine the case and requested a declaration from the radio’s service provider.

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.