Media service licence of Első Pesti Egyetemi Rádió expires in summer, small community radio media service facility in Budapest – Astoria (downtown) will be open for applications again

Published: 22 April 2021

Three more radio media service facilities in Budapest will be open for applications in the near future, after the draft calls for tender for the Astoria site and the 100.3 MHz and 103.9 MHz frequencies were approved by the Media Council of the National Media and Infocommunications Authority (NMHH) at its meeting this week. The council also finalised the invitations to tender for three local frequencies in the countryside, and imposed a fine on the service provider of TV2 for failing to comply with its obligation set out in the resolution on establishing the infringement of balanced coverage within the deadline.

Since the licence of the media service provider of Első Pesti Egyetemi Rádió expires on 31 July, the Media Council adopted a draft call for tenders for the use in principle of the small community radio media service facility in Budapest-Astoria. At this week’s meeting, the Council also approved draft calls for tender for the community use of the Budapest 100.3 MHz regional media service facility and for the commercial use of Budapest 103.9 MHz. The Media Council also finalised the calls for tender for the Mosonmagyaróvár 90.9 MHz, Mór 89.0 MHz and Sopron 104.6 MHz local media service facilities for community use. Tenders for the Mosonmagyaróvár frequency can be submitted on 14 June, and for Mór and Sopron on 25 May and 26 May respectively.

The Media Council imposed a fine of HUF 100,000 on the service provider of TV2 for failing to comply with its obligation set out in a resolution within the deadline. According to the applicable rules, in case of infringement of the obligation of balanced coverage, the media service provider shall publish the council’s decision at the time and in the manner specified by the Media Council, or provide an opportunity for the applicant to present their viewpoint. TV2 was late in fulfilling this obligation.

The full agenda of the weekly meetings of the Media Council is available on the council’s website together with the minutes of the sessions and all the resolutions – the latest documents are published after the necessary certification and administration processes.