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72 channels
Hungarian television strikes a balance between state-funded public broadcasting and a handful of powerful commercial players. The public MTVA group runs M1 (news) and M4 Sport, while RTL Klub and TV2 fight for primetime ratings with a mix of local reality shows, Hungarian-dubbed foreign series, and nightly newscasts. Unlike many of its Central European neighbors, Hungary dubs almost everything, from Hollywood blockbusters to Cartoon Network cartoons, which keeps voice actors famous and gives the telly a distinctly local hum. Primetime kicks off around 20:00 with news bulletins, then slides into entertainment: talent shows, cooking competitions, or long-running soap operas like Barátok közt that ran for decades. The news culture splits along political lines; MTVA's newscasts are government-friendly and solemn, while RTL Híradó and TV2 Tények go for punchier, more sensational leads. Sports coverage is obsessive about football (especially domestic league and national team matches), water polo, and handball. The kids' landscape is a mix of local versions of Cartoon Network and Disney Channel, plus home-grown M2 Petőfi TV for younger viewers. Movie channels like HBO and Cinemax run with Hungarian dubbing or subtitles, but the default is dubbing. Satellite and online streaming have grown, yet traditional linear TV still holds strong in homes across the country, especially among older generations who tune in for the evening news and a game show or two.