At the end of June, the Hungarian National Assembly passed an amendment to the media law that, among other things, establishes a new regulatory and operational structure for public service media. One of the less visible issues surrounding the restructuring is the future of ethnic minority media services.
Legal requirement – without specific details
Act XXI of 2026 did not introduce any new, detailed regulations regarding minority-language programming; however, it reaffirmed the importance of such programming as part of public service broadcasting. Media regulations continue to list the presentation and preservation of the culture, language, and identity of Hungary’s national minorities among the core responsibilities of public service media.
Addressing the situation of ethnic minority programs and editorial offices should be one of the top priorities for public service media. The history of ethnic minority broadcasting in Hungary is rooted in a strong professional tradition. The Serbo-Croatian program was the first to air on Hungarian Radio in 1952, and, starting on January 1, 1956, the state radio station began broadcasting a program for the German minority. Over the decades, editorial offices have not only worked to preserve traditions and values but have also functioned as centers for intellectual life. The fact that many leaders of ethnic minority communities have emerged from among the program producers is a testament to their broader role.
Despite their long-standing traditions, the operating conditions of these editorial offices have gradually deteriorated in recent decades. Following 2010, there were staff cuts; after the closures of regional studios in 2012 – where the vast majority of ethnic minority programs were produced – the technical conditions for their operation gradually deteriorated, while program producers’ salaries failed to keep pace with the market. Thus, the public media bears significant responsibility for failing to ensure that programs for national minorities receive the same professional, staffing, and technical conditions as those available to editorial offices serving the Hungarian majority, or at least to those serving Hungarian communities living abroad.
The Act on the Rights of National Minorities in Hungary clearly stipulates that national minorities have the right to cultivate their native language, preserve their culture, and receive information for and about their communities. Public service media should continue to be one of the most important institutional safeguards for the exercise of these rights. Since 2012, the idea that ethnic minority advocacy groups should take over program production has been raised on several occasions; advocates and national minority self-government leaders have also discussed this with the Media Services and Support Trust Fund (Médiaszolgáltatás-támogató és Vagyonkezelő Alap, MTVA), the main organization responsible for public service media in Hungary. Although ethnic minority self-governments and advocates can be key partners for public media, the institutional responsibility for program production must remain with the public service media provider. This is important because keeping program production within the public service media system also enables these programs to contribute to public scrutiny of the activities of ethnic minority advocacy groups.
Status – formal requirement met, but nothing more
Solving this problem is not only a responsibility but also a serious challenge. There are 13 legally recognized ethnic minority groups living in Hungary and all 13 have programs on the Radio for National Minorities channel. The channel broadcasts on the 873 kHz medium-wave frequency, which is outdated and, although it provides nationwide coverage, does not meet current sound quality standards. Furthermore, most home and car radios available are no longer capable of receiving medium-wave broadcasts. The television programs are broadcast on Duna and Duna World, usually during off-peak hours. The financial, staffing, and material resources needed to produce high-quality programs, are lacking. Furthermore, the technical—that is, non-editorial—production of several ethnic minority programs has been outsourced to external companies, which makes editorial work more difficult.
It is therefore advisable to develop a strategy aimed at improving the technical conditions for ethnic minority radio broadcasting, with particular emphasis on reception and program availability. In addition, it is necessary to review television programming schedules and the representation of ethnic minority content in national programming, and to ensure that editorial offices have adequate staffing, technical resources and infrastructure. All of this can only be achieved with predictable and equitable funding. The law does not address this issue, so the task may fall to the new leadership.
Online is not a byproduct
Future developments should not be limited solely to traditional radio and television broadcasting. Ethnic minority editorial offices must also be given the conditions necessary to produce online and multimedia content, and content must be presented consistently across all public service platforms. Reaching younger generations is no longer just an option, but a fundamental requirement.
Therefore, while restructuring public service media, it is necessary to decide not only what kind of content should be produced, but also which platforms and formats should be used to reach audiences. The form should be adapted to the content – not the other way around.
Targeting a broader audience
The Hungarian legal system guarantees extensive cultural and linguistic rights to the country's national minorities. Regardless of party politics, there is a consensus that the languages and cultures of Hungary’s national minorities enrich the cultural heritage of Hungary as a whole. The role of public service media is therefore not limited to informing national minorities. It also has a responsibility to make their culture, contemporary community life, and values visible and to present them to Hungarian society as a whole – not merely as folklore or as part of the preservation of traditions.
Ultimately, the credibility of public service lies not in its organizational structure, but in its ability to ensure that all communities – including Hungary’s national minorities – receive the public attention to which they are entitled.
