18 December 2012 Last updated at 07:35 ET

Hungary profile

• Overview
• Facts
• Leaders
• Media
• Timeline

Some of Hungary's newspapers are foreign-owned

Hungary's private broadcasters compete with public radio and TV. The public broadcaster has faced financial struggles, dwindling audiences and allegations of political influence.

Some European governments and institutions have criticised a controversial media law, introduced in 2011. The legislation created a Media Council, with a chairperson appointed by the prime minister.

Reporters Without Borders says the regulatory body has the power to "interfere in the news media's editorial decision-making".

While foreign ownership of media outlets is extensive, domestic ownership is concentrated in the hands of supporters of the governing Fidesz party, US-based Freedom House reports.

There were 6.5 million internet users by June 2012 (Internetworldstats.com).

The press

• Nepszabadsag - daily
• Magyar Hirlap - daily
• Magyar Nemzet - daily
• Nepszava - daily
• Heti Vilaggazdasag - political and business weekly
• The Budapest Sun - English-language
• The Budapest Times - English-language

Television

• Magyar Televizio (MTV) - public, operates two channels
• Duna TV - public, satellite channel geared to Hungarian minorities in neighbouring states
• TV2 - private, terrestrial
• RTL Klub - private, terrestrial
• Hir TV (News TV) - private, news

Radio

• Hungarian Radio - public, operates Kossuth, Petofi and Bartok networks
• InfoRadio - private, news
• Class FM - private
• Neo FM - private
• Juventus Radio - private

News agencies/internet

• MTI - state-owned
• Hungary Around the Clock - English-language news site
• Havaria Press - private