Hungarian media regulator announces new frequency tender, Klubrádió may apply

During a Monday session, NMHH chair Polyák Gábor revealed that the Media Council will soon issue a new frequency tender, and Klubrádió is eligible to participate. He did not adopt the station’s stance that a direct frequency allocation, rather than a tender, was warranted. The EU Court of Justice earlier ruled that Hungary violated EU law by not extending Klubrádió’s frequency right and by invalidating its prior application, noting procedural errors and infringements on freedom of expression.

Klubrádió originally secured a broadcasting contract in 2014 for the Budapest area, intended for a seven-year term with a possible five-year extension, but the Media Council refused renewal, citing repeated failures to submit required data and a period of negative capital before the latest filing. The council also dismissed the station’s request for temporary use of the frequency. The upcoming tender offers a new avenue for the broadcaster to regain a slot.