Screen Africa’s South African readers must be weary of reading about their own crisis-stricken public broadcaster (the SABC) by now, so here is news of another public broadcaster’s problems. The Hungarian parliament this week voted to cut Magyar Televisio’s (MTV) budget by a whopping 30% (€73 million).
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has urged Hungary’s Prime Minister and President to reconsider the massive cut. “Such a severe cut would fundamentally damage public service broadcasting in Hungary and prevent MTV from carrying out its vital function in the service of Hungarian citizens,’ EBU President Jean-Paul Philippot and Director General Jean Reveillon wrote in letters sent to Hungarian Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai and President Laszlo Solyom.
“While many EBU Members are facing funding cuts in the wake of the global recession, it is clear that what is envisaged for MTV goes far beyond what may be justified from a financial point of view,’ the letter added.
The EBU’s President and Director General reminded Hungary’s leaders of a resolution passed in 2008 by the European Parliament in September that the tasks of public sector broadcasting require long-term funding.
