Hungary's state television and radio networks suspended regular programming on 7 July in what Prime Minister Péter Magyar called a historic end to propaganda on public airwaves. The move fulfils a key campaign pledge by Magyar, who ousted Viktor Orbán after 16 years in power in April 2026.
M1, the flagship public channel, went dark and displayed a black screen bearing an apology: "Public media should not lie. We are sorry for doing it for so long." Magyar wrote on social media that state outlets had lied "at night, during the day, on every frequency" and that the practice was now over. Kossuth Radio also ceased transmission, with its frequencies temporarily carrying classical music station Bartók Radio instead.
M1 resumed broadcasting after roughly four hours, but without news bulletins. State media group MTVA said news programmes would be gradually reintroduced alongside a new editorial team.