Media assets

Television: TV2, LiChi TV, FEM3, Jocky TV, Moziverzum, Humor+, Izaura TV, KiWi TV, PRIME, Mozi+, Super TV2, Spiler1 TV, Spiler2 TV

State Media Matrix Typology

Captured Private (CaPr)

Ownership and governance

TV2 is not directly controlled by state structures. It is owned by József Vida, a retired hammer thrower turned businessman and banker, who has close relations with the Fidesz political party of the Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

The chairman of TV2 is Miklós Vaszily, a media oligarch with very close ties to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. In the past, Vaszily has handled several key deals that have aligned major private media outlets with the government. On 22 April 2025, Stanchev stepped down by mutual agreement, and Miklós Vaszily, already chairman of the board, assumed the role of CEO. Vaszily’s dual role further tightened the link between TV2’s management and the Fidesz-aligned business elite.

Source of funding and budget

TV2 is a commercially-run broadcaster that earns revenue from advertising. However, the outlet has also been a major recipient of state advertising funds in recent years, particularly after being purchased by Vajna, a staunch supporter of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. For instance, in 2018, TV2 received 67% of the total revenues from state advertising in the television sector, which amounted to more than half of the channel’s operational expenditure. In contrast, the independent RTL Klub received only 1%.

More recent consolidated financial statements show that in 2023, TV2 achieved sales of HUF 53.3bn (€138m), an increase from the previous year, with EBITDA rising to HUF 20.4bn (€53m) and a net profit of HUF 2bn (€5.2m).

Editorial independence

There is abundant evidence confirming that TV2 has a pro-government agenda. Since it was taken over by Vajna in 2015, it has adopted a pro-government editorial line. Independent journalists have labeled TV2 a government communication channel; independent media outlets also refer to it as a “government-aligned” channel. Before the 2022 elections, several anchors at TV2 publicly encouraged people to vote for Fidesz.

During Stanchev’s tenure as CEO (2019–2025), the group broadened its entertainment portfolio and invested in new program formats, which improved audience reach and digital presence. These moves strengthened TV2’s competitiveness against RTL and diversified its content. At the same time, watchdogs and independent outlets consistently pointed to TV2’s function as a government-friendly broadcaster, particularly in news and political coverage. With Vaszily taking over as CEO in 2025, concerns about editorial alignment with Fidesz’s communication strategy have only intensified.

There is no domestic statute or mechanism of independent assessment or oversight that would validate TV2’s editorial independence.

September 2025

Media assets

Television: TV 2, TV 2 Play, TV 2 News, TV 2 Charlie, TV 2 Sport, TV 2 Sport X, TV 2 Echo, TV 2 FRI

State Media Matrix Typology

Independent State-Managed (ISM)

Ownership and governance

TV 2 Denmark remains state-owned and commercially funded. Its governance structure comprises a nine-member Board of Directors—six appointed by the Danish Minister of Culture and three elected by TV 2 staff—which oversees the station’s overarching strategic direction.

Anne Engdal Stig Christensen officially assumed the role of CEO at TV 2 Denmark on 1 August 2019, succeeding Merete Eldrup. Christensen’s connection with TV 2 stretches back to 1994, across two separate periods of employment, and her tenure has been marked by steady leadership, steering the company through a demanding phase of digital transformation and the reshaping of its content strategy.

Source of funding and budget

TV 2’s revenue model remains rooted in advertising and subscription income. In 2021, the company had a turnover of DKK 3.6bn (US$ 547m), with 46% of the revenue coming from advertising sales and 51% from subscription sales. In 2022, TV2’s total turnover increased to DKK 3.8bn (US$ 519m), with DKK 2bn generated through subscriptions and DKK 1.7bn from advertising sales, according to a company financial report. In 2023, TV2 had a total income of DKK 3.8bn (US$ 551m).

The regional channels continue to receive partial funding from the old television licence fee, though as of 2024 this has been replaced by state tax collection.

In 2024, TV 2 Denmark recorded its highest-ever turnover of DKK 4.15 billion (approx. US$610 million), a significant increase from DKK 3.8 billion the previous year. Subscription revenues grew strongly—up nearly 15% to DKK 2.49 billion—making up around 60% of the total, while advertising income remained steady at DKK 1.59 billion (38%). Digital revenues accounted for 41% of all income, underscoring TV 2’s rapid pivot towards streaming and online platforms. The broadcaster closed the year with an EBIT of DKK 339 million and an operating margin of 8.2%, reflecting robust profitability despite escalating content costs.

Editorial independence

Denmark’s Constitution has strictly banned censorship since 1849, and the government exerts no influence on TV 2’s editorial operations. Content analyses conducted by the Media and Journalism Research Center from May 2021, March 2023, and May 2024 found no bias. TV 2 operates under the Danish Broadcast Law, which enshrines freedom of information and expression as essential to its programming.

TV 2 also maintains policies on ethics, whistleblower protection, diversity, and communication, though lacks formal independent oversight of its editorial decisions.

August 2025