Erstellt am: 18. 2. 2012 - 15:22 Uhr

Klubrádio

A radio station is set to close in Budapest but this is no ordinary goodbye!

After two tram rides, I’ve come to the outskirts of Budapest. And I’m staring at a small two-storey building. On the outside it says “Klubrádio 95.3”. It looks like many radio stations I’ve been to over the years. But this one is different since it has become a focus for the international outcry against the Hungarian government’s controversial reform package.

It’s reported that even Hillary Clinton has got involved writing a letter to Prime Minister Viktor Orban outlining her concerns about democracy in Hungary. And other voices have weighed in too including European Commission President José Manuel Barroso.

What is Klubrádio?

It’s talk radio, a left wing, liberal and now according to György Bolgár, senior editor and afternoon show host, the only voice of opposition to be heard on the Hungarian radio airwaves currently. It has been in operation for about 10 years and has up to ½ million listeners per day. It's also become an obvious thorn in the side of the Orban government.

What’s been happening?

You have to go back to the 2010 elections when Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party, in alliance with the Christian Democratic People's Party, won over 52% of the votes and achieved a two thirds supermajority of seats in the Hungarian parliament. So what would he do with this power? Under a new media law, a media council was set up of Fidesz appointees. This new media council would oversee the licensing procedure for radio and television stations. Klubrádio’s licence came up for renewal last year, and it was awarded to a new radio company with (it would seem) no experience on the radio market.

Changing the rules?

The Media Council told me that their process of awarding radio licenses was fair. The problem appears to be that the rules were changed to ensure that Klubrádio would not retain its license. The tender, for example, required the winning station to broadcast a large percentage of music. So any kind of talk radio is going to lose out in this process?

Where do things stand?

Klubrádio is still on air for now pending a legal challenge to the decision in the Budapest Court of Appeals. A ruling is expected in March. If that goes against Klubrádio they will be off the air and a station that offers a unique and critical voice will be lost. But here is the dilemma for the Orban government. It is seeking billions in financial assistance from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, And both bodies are concerned about what has happened to Klub Radio. EU Commissioner for Media, Neelie Kroes, has said. "No IMF deal will be contingent on the fate of Klubrádio. But the station's uncertain future is certainly not helping Hungary's cause".

Inside Klubrádio

Walking through the glass doors I was greeted by György Bolgár. He is a veteran of the radio scene in Hungary and presents an afternoon programme. These were obviously difficult times for György and his colleagues. Your energy is divided between your job of putting together a radio show whilst trying to fight for your own survival. He told me that there have been two problems for the station. Most of their advertising in the past has come from government sources or big companies connected with government. But since the Orban government took over in 2010, much of that income seems to have dried up. So the finances have not been healthy although the station has been surviving on listeners' subscriptions. Next they faced the renewal of their licence with the Media Council and decisions there went against them for mainly (we’re told) financial reasons.

What is the future?

All eyes on are on what will happen in the Budapest Court of Appeals. Even if you accept the Media Council’s word that their process has been fair, it does appear that the cards have been stacked against Klubrádio. As I said goodbye to György at Klubrádio it did strike me that if a process had been engineered to remove Klubrádio, in any event this is completely short-sighted. A talk radio station can be a pin prick in the side of any government but the situation can grow into a gaping hole if there is the perception of unfairness surrounding their departure. Viktor Orban could even welcome Klubrádio's past and future contributions to the Hungarian media scene to show his critics that he’s not afraid of being challenged.

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