In a press statement issued today, Dederick and Simon said Budapest’s registry court declined Fonyóʼs request to register his ownership of the company in the first instance, and announced that Magyar Broadcasting Co. Kft., owned by Vajna, is the official owner of the channel.
Since Vajna announced his purchase of the channel in mid-October, Fonyó, who is a partner of media mogul Lajos Simicska, claimed to be the legal owner. He continued to fight last yearʼs decision by the Competition Authority to clear Vajna’s purchase.
Fonyóʼs partner Simicska owns a media empire with several outlets, which used to provide government friendly news coverage up until last year. In February, Simicska had a public falling out with his long-time ally, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, and since then, Simicska has been losing very lucrative contracts with officialdom.
Vajna, who has established a secure position for himself in the government and subsequently won exclusive tenders to run casinos in Hungary, is expected to run more government friendly news coverage. But Vajna insists that his station will stress interesting content over political loyalty.
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