Hungarian TV Show Faces Backlash After Political Shift

Long-running program ‘Napló’ draws criticism as it seemingly embraces political themes, dividing viewers.

After an 11-year hiatus, the return of “Napló” (Diary) to TV2 in Hungary was met with mixed reactions. Now, the show is again under scrutiny amid claims that it’s embracing politically charged content, leading some to question its original spirit.

A Contentious Comeback

The revival of “Napló” on TV2 sparked controversy. Several former contributors openly criticized the move, citing concerns about the perceived political leanings of TV2’s news programming. None of these individuals joined the new version, with reporters from “Tények plusz” largely filling their roles. Péter Pachmann was tapped as the new host.

For years, the show had been known as “Heti Napló” (Weekly Diary) with András Sváby on ATV. Sváby, the original creator and host, expressed surprise at the reboot. According to a 2024 report from the Hungarian National Media and Infocommunications Authority, TV2 holds the second-largest audience share in Hungary, at 17.2% NMHH report.

“When I first heard about this whole thing, around April, I thought someone was trying to prank me. An April Fool’s joke.”

—András Sváby

Viewer Discord

Online commenters have voiced sharply divided opinions. Some are critical: Erzsi Kleiber wrote, “It wasn’t worth it, and giving it this title! This ‘Diary’ is a flop, Pachmann doesn’t even have self-criticism, he’s a zero next to Sváby!!” Others defend the program: Piroska Bucsai asked, “Why does it not bother anyone that RTL is constantly scolding the government and broadcasting defamatory programs?”

Ratings Battle

While the initial comeback episode of the show was a ratings success, its numbers later declined. “Házon kívül” (Outside the House) on RTL, a competing show airing at the same time, has become a consistent victor in the ratings.

“They are trying to overtake ‘Házonkívül’, they don’t want people to watch it, because it’s quite embarrassing for them…”

Political Turn?

The show recently featured its first politically-driven report, focusing on traffic congestion in Budapest. Many commenters expressed skepticism.

“I’ll stick with SVÁBY, it’s already proven!”

“TV2 is ranked low on the list of channels, so I don’t accidentally watch it.”

Conversely, some have defended the program.

“Every coin has two sides – as long as it’s okay for RTL to do this in the news, TV2 can do it too.”

Future Outlook

Although only one politically-themed public affairs report has aired, rumors suggest that political and public affairs topics will become increasingly prominent on “Napló” as the 2026 parliamentary elections approach. Some viewers already feel that the show is shifting away from its original focus toward other topics.

Whether viewers will embrace this change in direction or turn to competing programs remains to be seen. Public opinion appears to be sharply divided.