Religious content is now also mostly searched online
The majority of religious believers in Hungary now search for religious content online, while three-quarters of them also keep in touch with their own congregation via social media platforms – according to a recent study commissioned by the National Media and Infocommunications Authority (NMHH). Psyma Hungary’s comprehensive study mapping the religious media consumption habits of the Hungarian population also revealed that about two-thirds of the respondents would like to see more uplifting and heartening human stories in programming, while almost half of them feel there is a lack of Christian entertainment content.
The survey, conducted in the second half of 2025, was built on three pillars: a foundational study mapping religious media outlets, a representative telephone survey of 1,000 members of the general public, and an online survey of 2,200 believers. The results show that approximately one-third of Hungarian society considers itself somewhat or strongly religious, which is reflected in their interest in related media content. While there is no mass consumer demand for religious programming overall, the majority of people do encounter such material at least on a weekly basis. Most respondents are neutral towards religious programmes, but twice as many relate to them positively as negatively.
| brings joy, sparks interest | indifferent | bothersome, annoying | |
|---|---|---|---|
| (on a weekly basis) conscious, proactive consumers | 64 | 31 | 4 |
| (on a weekly basis) more passive, but more engaged consumers | 49 | 47 | 4 |
| (on a weekly basis) general (neutral) consumers | 22 | 67 | 11 |
| (on a weekly basis) non-consumers | 11 | 69 | 20 |
| overall average | 25 | 61 | 13 |
One of the study’s most important findings concerns the defining role of online media. The primary channels for religious content are social media platforms, online news sites and video-sharing platforms, followed by television. Social media also plays a major role in religious community-building: 56% of believers actively engage with religious content, and 75% of respondents also keep in touch with their religious community online, primarily by following Facebook pages and websites. Online presence is particularly important among younger and higher-status religious groups, as is the use of digital channels by local religious communities.
In light of these findings, religious media consumption is no longer limited to traditional broadcast services: believers have become a proactive, digitally savvy audience seeking community engagement. In terms of content, respondents perceive a lack of educational, conversational religious programming. There is also demand for content addressing issues of spiritual balance, the challenges of everyday life and mental health from a faith-based perspective. The majority consider the existing supply of mass and worship service broadcasts to be adequate, while interest in religious history programmes is more moderate.
Overall, the study highlights that the audience for religious media content is clearly identifiable, and the online space is an indispensable medium for conveying information and experiences related to religious life. The key to future developments lies in targeted, relevant and relevant content that is relevant to everyday life.
The study and the detailed findings of the research are available on the NMHH website: https://nmhh.hu/cikk/257399/Egyhazak_hitelet_es_vallas_a_mediaban