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Welcome to Hungary television program
Welcome to Hungary was the first English language television programme about Hungary presented in North America via the National Broadcasting Network and SCOLA Satellite TV Network.

Contribute to build a new era
After the change of regime in Hungary, the production was the most significant English language radio- and later television programme focusing on Hungary for the market of the United States. From 1994, the production was also broadcasted by the Hungarian Television. The regular reports presented a clear and comprehensive view of the country and Eastern Europe as well. The news focused on the new legislative environment and changing economic situation, as well as on investment opportunities.  

After the 1990 Hungarian parliamentary elctions
The idea of a topical and informative programme was encouraged by the founder of Hungaria Radio New York Gyula Appatini, an acclaimed artist of the Metropolitan Opera Gábor Carelli and the well-known Wall Street person Michael Hont. The media company supporting the initiative, MADER Ltd., was established by a group of young Hungarians and Americans under the direction of Andreas Zsolt Magonyi in the State of New Jerse y in 1989.

The essential conditions in the realization of the plan were to establish a private media company with professional experience and most of all to find financial support for the project. Before the change of regime the media sector was operated by Government-owned companies in Hungary. The Hungarian and U.S.-owned MADER Ltd. was one of the first private media production companies in the country after 1989. Building-up the company and keep it running was a major challenge for the founders.

Radio breakthrough
Firstly, from 1989 a radio programme was broadcasted in 60 minutes duration monthly by WEBI-FM at 105.9, covering the area within 100 miles around the City of New York. Shortly after the successful initiation the reports were also taken by the Cleveland based WKTX Radio Station at AM 830 operated by Miklós Kossányi.

The news makers presented the latest economic and financial news, market updates and interviews with key decision-making persons in the business world. Besides, the programme reported on unique cultural events from Hungary. The colourful Hungarian and English language radio reports on current issues from Hungary were made by well-trained Hungarian radio editors and reporters. It was a significant breakthrough for all Hungarian emigrants living in the United States.

The ultimate aim was to make a professional television programme and the already running radio project successfully laid the foundations of the first regular English language television news programme about Hungary. In many respects, the final goal was especially important because it meant that masses including U.S.-born individuals could also understand the reports on Hungary. The national television channels in the United States were open to cooperate with such an authentic production company.

White House meeting
Before the launch of the television programme, the crew made a documentary about the private visit of President Árpád Göncz to the United States and attended the White House meeting of George Bush and Árpád Göncz on 18 May 1990. The production was the first television documentary about Hungary's first post-communist, democratically elected president broadcasted by the Hungarian Television on 2 June 1991.

Hungary promoted in North America
At first a quarterly, 60 minutes long television production was launched by the National Broadcasting Network and SCOLA Satellite TV Network in November 1991. The television programme was made available with broadcasts across North America to an estimated potential TV audience of more than 20 million people. Most of all, the newsmakers wanted to reach the potential investors and the young generation in the U.S. The reports offered trustworthy information about Hungary. Even more importantly, programmes followed the evolution of the Hungarian economic and legislative background after the change of regime. The economic structure changed fundamentally with all its social consequences in Hungary and the Western countries were mostly looking for well- authenticated information.

Country images creators
Programmes were compiled by well-known faces of the Hungarian Television in Budapest. This gave chance to make interviews with legislators, leaders of privatization, prominent representatives of the business and banking sectors, as well as members of the new government. The progress reports on Hungary gave comprehensive picture of the state of affairs in the country and significantly contributed to providing authentic information to the investors in the U.S.

The crew of “Welcome to Hungary” was regularly invited to make documentaries on significant and historical presidential visits as well as reported on official foreign trips of members of the Government from 1991. Besides, the most significant moments of visits were often broadcasted live to the Hungarian Television and the Hungarian diaspora.

Hungary needed to adapt to the constantly changing circumstances provided by the international markets and “Welcome to Hungary” with its significant audience figures was a remarkable news site to the United States. The broadcasts were good opportunities for dialogues between financers, company leaders and political decision makers, among others. The economic oriented programme played a major role in familiarizing the democratic Hungary after the regime change. “Welcome to Hungary” was to bring a new image of the country to the world.

Brodcasted by the Hungarian Television
“Welcome to Hungary” became widely known also in Hungary and at the same time, there was a growing need for an English language economy report in the country. Recognizing the need for a foreign language programme, the Hungarian Television and the “Welcome to Hungary” production made an agreement in order to broadcast “Welcome to Hungary” on channel MTV1 from March 1994. By that time, the biweekly production achieved a determinative position on the market and its Hungarian presence increased the respect of the programme even more. Besides, it was the first regular English language television programme in Hungary after the change of regime.

One of the interesting things about success is that the programmes were also made in Hungarian language to be presented by channel MTV2.

Functioning
After the Hungarian regime change the first democratically elected goverment, led by prime minister József Antall opened Hungary to the World and provided wide-ranging information on Hungary to foreign countries and the Hungarian diaspora. The “Welcome to Hungary” production was well integrated into this aspiration and its successful development was very motivated during those years. This atmosphere helped to find well-wishers and from the beginning the financial support of the production was provided mainly by Hungarian companies and banks.

After 1996 the priorities have changed, and it became much more challenging to get financial support from companies as well as from banks. The last “Welcome to Hungary” was broadcasted on 29 August 1997. The intention to restart the television programme emerges time and time again.