Faith-healers in Budapest to Save MTV

Michael Hedges November 6, 2006

With Hungarian public television clinging to life by a thread, public broadcasting support groups hold an “extraordinary” séance.

The faithful of Europe’s public broadcasting swooped into Budapest (November 3) to rally support for beleaguered Magyer Televízió (MTV). Speechmakers included DG Info Commissioner Vivaine Reding, European Broadcasting Union (EBU) President Fritz Pleitgen and Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) media representative Miklós Haraszti.

Given the unfortunate conference name – “From Secret Service to Public Service” – the organizers want to send a clear message to the Hungarian Parliament, Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsányand all other errant governments in the new EU Member States. Given economic and political concerns in the new Members States, public broadcasting is a lesser priority. Organized by the EBU and MTV, the conference covered no new ground, demanding, as usual, political independence for the public broadcaster and a license tax on all citizens to support it.

The Hungarian Parliament abolished the license tax in 2002, leaving MTV to lobby with every other interest group for State funding. This is blasphemy in the eyes of the EBU. In late September outgoing EBU president Arne Wessberg called MTV the “worse public television in Europe” and asked for meeting with the Prime Minister Gyurcsány to discuss the obvious lack of political independence. One response, from Speaker of the Parliament Katalin Szili, reminded all that MTV “is owned by the Parliament, not the government.” 

“Public service broadcasters must be independent of politics,” reminded Mrs. Reding. “Secure funding is vital in ensuring this independence. Warm words of support are not enough, public service broadcasters must be given the means to fulfill their remit.” 

“Public service broadcasting must be independent of any vested interest,” said Mr. Pleitgen, keeping to the talking points. “It must be provided with sufficient funding to carry out its mission; providing competent and attractive coverage of information, culture, education and entertainment, including sport.”

Of primary interest to MTV is a place to live. The Hungarian Privitization Agency bought the building from MTV in 1999 then leased back the space, for which MTV owes €millions. Earlier this year the building was sold to Canadian real estate developer Michael Tippin who wants to renovate, add shops, cafés, apartments and a 5 star hotel. Repairs will be in order as the building became a focal point for last months’ riots protesting PM Gyurcsány’s government. MTV is to move into a new building, yet unfunded. Tippin wants MTV out next July.

Secondary to the main conference theme was digital transition, conspicuously slow in Hungary as its parliament has yet to add digital anything to the country’s media laws. Antenna Hungária, the country’s primary broadcast infrastructure provider and subsidiary of Swisscom, has been particularly anguished at the slow progress in digital radio and TV uptake. As often found in times of great need, relationships often find new solutions. The Swiss broadcast license tax collections company, Billag AG, is also a Swisscom subsidiary.

In the spirit of measures proposed by the international public broadcasting experts, MTV has taken its own extraordinary steps. In October Péter Schatz, a trained psychotherapist, was named MTV’s Business and Product Development Director.

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