Hungarian state TV M1 suspends broadcasts, displays apology: 'Public broadcasting cannot lie'

Hungarian state television channel M1 went dark on Tuesday evening, displaying a message apologizing for years of deception. The government's reform to make public broadcasting 'independent and reliable' led to the temporary suspension, according to N12's Asaf Rozentzweig. Prime Minister Péter Magyar hailed the move as 'a historic day.'

The Zioneer has reported on the reform bill submitted Sunday (June 13) by Prime Minister Péter Magyar's ruling party to overhaul public broadcasting, which had become a central government mouthpiece under Viktor Orbán. Tuesday evening's suspension of M1 marks the implementation of that reform. The channel displayed a black screen with the message: 'Public broadcasting cannot lie. We apologize that for many years we did so anyway.' Magyar called it a historic day. The suspension is described as temporary, and the government aims to make the broadcaster 'independent and reliable.' The N12 report, citing Hungarian state television, provides the first footage of the apology.

6 developments

1. 41 minutes ago · 19:40 · 7 JulLatest

   Government attributes suspension to management changes for 'independent and reliable' media.

2. 18:31 · 7 Jul

   PM Péter Magyar calls it a 'historic day' for media reform.

3. 18:24 · 7 Jul

   Stated goal is to make the broadcaster independent and reliable.

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Source and signal

• Internal intake