Echo TV
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Budapest, 1149
 | |
| Country | Hungary |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Hungary |
| Headquarters | Angol Street 65-69, Budapest, 1149 |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | Hungarian |
| Picture format | 576i (16:9 SDTV) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Echo Hungária TV Zrt (part of Talentis Group) |
| History | |
| Launched | September 15, 2005 |
| Closed | March 31, 2019 |
| Links | |
| Website | www |
Echo TV was a Christian-conservative[1] Hungarian television channel owned and operated by Echo Hungária TV Zrt,[1] and founded in 2005 to cover business news.[2] Later focusing on news broadcasting and public affairs, it was known as a supporter of Fidesz and KDNP.[3]
| This article is part of a series on |
| Conservatism in Hungary |
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Echo TV was founded as a business news channel in 2005[4] at the initiative of Gábor Széles, the 4th richest man of Hungary (as of 2017) and the head of Videoton and Ikarus Bus.[2] Széles had only days previously purchased Hungary's daily Magyar Hírlap; the acquisition of both stations helped Széles establish a major media presence in Hungary.[5] Széles reportedly spent two billion Hungarian forints in creating Echo TV.[6]
In 2006 Echo TV became a media partner of Feratel media technologies AG, based in Austria.[7]
Gábor Széles sold Echo TV to Fidesz-backed businessman and oligarch Lőrinc Mészáros on December 2, 2016.[2]
On December 4, 2017, the whole channel was renewed.[8] Echo TV ceased operations on March 31, 2019. Its staff and technical equipment were integrated into Hír TV, which had returned as a pro-government media portfolio after the 2018 parliamentary election.[9]
