Promoting radio programmes

Twenty-seven programmes of twenty-four radio stations were awarded a total of HUF 89.75 million in the first round of the 2021 incentive tender of the Media Council to promote the production of news programmes, thematic and public service magazine programmes. Radio 1 in Pécs, Debrecen and Salgótarján, Rádio Som in Fehérgyarmat, Gong Rádió in Kecskemét, Credo Rádio in Szombathely, Rádió Antritt in Szekszárd, Pannon Rádió in Szabadka and Vörösmarty Rádió in Székesfehérvár can produce news programmes. 101.7 Pécs FM, Rádió Szentendre, Forrás Rádió in Tatabánya, Rádió Törökszentmiklós, Európa Rádió in Miskolc, Koronafm100 in Kalocsa, Aktív Rádió 93.9 in Karcag, Paks FM, Rádió Dabas, 98.4 Mega Rádió in Békéscsaba and 104,0 Rádió 1, Best FM in Nyíregyháza, Rádió M in Miskolc, and Karc FM and Mária Rádió in Budapest submitted successful tenders in the service magazine programme category. Rádió 24 in Duanújváros, Radio Monošter in Szentgotthárd and Trend FM in Budapest can produce thematic magazine programmes.

Decisions related to radio frequencies and decisions of the Media Council

The Media Council requested NMHH to develop the frequency plan of Budapest 96.4 MHz in preparation for the related radio tender procedure. The Council conducted the formal review of the submitted tenders for the community use of local frequencies Békéscsaba 91.8 MHz and Eger 99.1 MHz and in both cases it called on the sole tenderer Karc FM Média Kft. to provide missing information. The submission deadline of the tender for the community use of local frequency Mosonmagyaróvár 90.9 MHz was changed by the body to 14 June. At the request of the service provider the Council approved of Mária Rádió Frekvencia Kft. to commence broadcasting – with a delay of three months – until no later than 21 August at the local community frequency of 93.1 MHz in Kaposvár.

Based on the decision of the Curia on 1 April, the Council is opening a repeated procedure related to the tender for the commercial use of local frequency 104.8 MHz in Budaörs.

The service provider of Rádió 1 was sanctioned with a penalty of HUF 2.05 million by the Council for incorrect age-rating. An episode of the programme Balázsék aired in February – was rated as “Not recommended under the age of twelve” instead of “Not recommended under the age of sixteen”, and instead of broadcasting it between 9:00 pm and 5:00 am it was aired from 6:00 in the morning, despite the implicit discussion of sexuality therein. Based on the mandatory provisions of the Media Act, the Council levied another HUF 50 000 penalty for the managing director of the company, since the radio carried out the legal infringement repeatedly. 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.

Almost three-quarter of people aged above 15 use the internet

74.11% of the Hungarian population above the age of 15 surf the internet, but there are significant differences in the internet use of the age groups – reveals the latest study prepared based on online audience measurements and approved by the Media Council. 95.1% of generation Z aged between 15-24, and 96.7% of generation Y aged between 24-40 and 82.3% of generation X aged between 41-56 use the internet, while only 57.1% of the Baby-boomers aged between 57-75 surf the net. The study processing Q1 of 2021 is available at the website of the authority.