The investigative journalists at Átlátszó created a visualization of how the Hungarian media went to government and Fidesz-friendly oligarchs.

Media outlets in the hands of various oligarchs in 2018. Red: print titles, Green: online, Blue: billboards, Gray: radio, Yellow: TV Source: Átlátszó.hu

The entire, interactive infographic can be found here, with each title added, but it is impossible to embed here. (Somehow not surprised. Hungarian non-Fidesz media prefers coubs to gifs and hypes every single format that major platforms don’t support.)

Browse for yourself here

According to the data:

• In January 2018, the Fidesz media empire published 500 titles – ranging from teen magazines to TV channels. Two third were print papers, published by 22 publishers.

In 2015, only 31 medium was controlled by the government. 21 didn’t exist. By 2018 all 500 is Fidesz-controlled. (Nyomtatott=Print)

• They are owned by 14 individuals.

Media outlets in the hands of various oligarchs in 2018. Red: print titles, Green: online, Blue: billboards, Gray: radio, Yellow: TV Source: Átlátszó.hu

• Some were discontinued, like the country’s biggest and oldest daily, Népszabadság, that was shut down overnight, journalists weren’t allowed back in the buildings for their belongings, even the 5+ decades long archive disappeared.
• Others were bought by oligarchs, on generous loans by state-owned banks, such as TV2, a basket case of subservient incompetence and spineless propaganda. Its journalists left and the once strong commercial channels is now a butt of jokes. See for yourself why.
• Yet another set of “left-wing” channels were brought under Fidesz control, their owners made their deals – then moved their best political reporters into the night slot or let them leave.

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