Hungary by Atlatszo – Threats, blackmail and corruption: This is how politics distorts the advertising market

This is what Atlatszo.hu wrote this week:

This is how politics distorts the advertising market in Hungary: threats, blackmail and corruption

Mérték Média Monitor‘s latest research tracks how advertising money spent by privately owned companies is diverted from certain media outlets for political or other reasons.

Pro-Orban forces take over news channel, cancel a dozen shows

A television news channel is the latest casualty of the ’media war’ in Hungary: the new, pro-Orban owner of HírTV arrived in the studio on Wednesday, called a staff meeting and announced new, pro-Orban editorial leadership.

Bleeding out the Simicska Empire

The biggest development in the media market this year was undoubtedly the disintegration of Lajos Simicska’s independent but politically conservative media empire.

Your reading list about what is going on in Hungary:

Reuters: BMW to build 1 billion euro car factory in Hungary

BMW will invest 1 billion euros ($1.17 bln) to build a new plant in Hungary at a time when a rise in protectionism is forcing carmakers to curb inter-continental exports.

Haaretz: Get Ready for Netanyahu’s Hungary-style Campaign

Just as with the Eastern European regimes that are pulling away from democracy, hurting minorities is merely a tool. Israel’s nation-state law is a springboard for an Orbánesque hate campaign.

The Washington Post: Hungary’s Orban launches his offensive on Europe

Orban has a broader mission in mind: he urged his right-wing comrades across Europe to “concentrate all our strength” on “important and decisive” 2019 elections for the European Parliament.

DW: Viktor Orban’s campaign against George Soros ‘mercenaries’

Hungary is taking action against NGOs, using increasingly stringent laws and dubious methods. In a major shift, Open Society Foundations — backed by George Soros — has decided to move to Berlin.

Bloomberg: Orban’s Media Conquest Engulfs Hungarian Conservative Weekly

Heti Valasz said it was closing operations after entering bankruptcy and the resignation of its editor, a former spokesman of Prime Minister Viktor Orban who had become critical of the populist leader.