Media in Warsaw Pact countries (President Welles)

An overview of media (television, radio, press and the internet) in the Eastern European Socialist countries of the Warsaw Pact, as of 2012.

Television
Television broadcasts began in Hungary in 1957, when the state controlled Magyar Televízió (Hungarian Television), abbrevated as MTV, was launched. It took over the role of the main broadcasting media in the mid-1960s, and expanded further in the next decades. A second channel was launched in 1971. From then on, the two programs are known as TV1 and TV2. A third channel, TV3 was launched in 1996, although it only broadcasts in a limited timeslot.

Programming is typical for a Communist state-sponsored media. The Hungarian Television spends a large amount of it's programming on educational and cultural programs, as well as a certain amount of propaganda. Light-hearted entertainment programs are also common, mostly produced by MTV itself. The television also produces a large number of TV movies, plays and series. The most popular series is the soap opera Szomszédok (Neighbors), currently on the air for it's 25th consequetive year.

A number of popular American series are also broadcast, usually a few years after their original US premiere (although a heavy selection is made based on ideological content). Also, Western European programs are popular, as well as (of course) many Eastern European, mostly Soviet programs.

Nation-wide talent contests, such as Ki mit tud? (a general talent show) and Táncdalfesztivál (a pop music competition) are often held with huge success. Comedians are also popular, including the Iván Bagi - Olivér Nacsa duo and Zoltán Kőhalmi (both discovered in Ki mit tud? programs).