Cable television stations are moving abroad from Hungary. They say the reason is the media law and the media authority ORTT, while the latter places the blame on the economic situation, writes fn.hu.
Currently more than 70% of the channels available in Hungary air from abroad. Those which leave Hungary can spare millions of forints in broadcasting fees, and most of the new ones begin their operations abroad.
According to media authority ORTT, the reason lying behind their decision is the macroeconomic situation, but the channels themselves never mention this as a reason. Instead, they blame the broadcasting fees which are between Ft 10 and 35 million (€43,392 and 151,868). One of the managers of a TV channel says that the foreign owner of the channel was shocked by these fees which are significantly higher than in other countries.
In some countries, channels broadcasting via satellite do not even have to register. In other countries, they have to register but do not have to pay, and even if they have to pay fees, they are considerably lower than those in Hungary. Besides lower fees, lower wages can be attractive, too.
Another difficulty that channels in Hungary have to face is that it is obligatory for general channels reaching at least half of the population to produce a news show which costs between Ft 10 and 40 million per month.
Media authorities of other countries are much easier to get along with than the ORTT. They are known to be more fair than ORTT, taking strict measures if necessary, but only in those cases.
Not every channel can flee Hungary as the center and technical staff must be settled in the target country where the channel wants to move. Aside from the channels which do not meet these conditions and therefore cannot move, there are a few which do not want to move, hoping that the situation will improve.
If you look at the way these fees are distibuted (http://www.epra.org/comasystem/readit.pl/Profile_HU_0906.pdf?wfa=1214046777&daten=bloLfywhUKy9fflhvc6r2bXVYZASIqmFyu6ErhMcO2YCsxuhXipER1188206909) you’ll see that the reason they are so high is simply to support a massive, unnecessary bureaucracy and the redundant tribe of aktatologatók (what the Japanese call, madogiwa-zoku 窓際族).
If you add to this very good article, that the most of the remaining channels are indirectly financed by ex-communist investors, who has to do it as loyalty fee to the party, you’ll understand that Hungary faces similar lack of freedom of media & information as Russia does.