Radio tender for Budapest 95.3 MHz closed
At this week’s meeting, the National Media and Infocommunications Authority (NMHH) declared the sole bidder Karc FM Média Kft. as the winner of the tender for the community use of the Budapest 95.3 MHz regional frequency. The Media Council approved to connect a local radio in Velence and in Dunaújváros with Best FM in Budapest. The council also imposed fines on a total of eleven radio and television stations for failing to meet their 2020 data reporting obligations.
The council established that the winner of the tender published for the community use of the Budapest 95.3 MHz regional radio frequency is the sole bidder Karc FM Média Kft.
The council approved the request of the operators to connect the local commercial radios 90.4 Rádió 1 in Velence and 93.1 Rádió 1 in Dunaújváros with Best FM broadcasting on the 99.5 MHz frequency in Budapest from 5 May, which therefore broadcast under the names 90.4 Best FM and 93.1 Best FM and change their image accordingly. The body finalised the tender notice for the community use of the Szekszárd 102.5 MHz and Komló 91.4 MHz frequencies and the commercial use of the Pápa 95.7 MHz frequency. The tenders for the Szekszárd and Komló frequencies can be submitted on 31 May and 2 June, and for the Pápa frequency on 9 June. In addition, the Media Council asked NMHH to develop frequency plans for Budapest 102.1 MHz, Kalocsa 94.5 MHz, Dunaföldvár 104.1 MHz, Tapolca 101.8 MHz, Veszprém 94.6 MHz, Esztergom 92.5 MHz, Szombathely 107.4 MHz and Zalaegerszeg 92.9 MHz.
NMHH inspected the fulfilment of the reporting obligations of media service providers in the period from 1 January to 31 March 2020. Under the Media Act, certain media service providers are obliged to provide data on a monthly basis so that the Media Council can monitor compliance with the regulations on programme quotas. A total of three radio and eight television media service providers failed to provide data on time and have to pay fines, while two service providers have been called upon to comply with their obligations within 30 days. When imposing a legal consequence, the Media Council always assesses the type and level of legal consequence based on a gradual approach and the principle of proportionality by taking all the circumstances of each case into account.
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.