Tamás Pataki, owner of cable provider Eurocable Magyarország, has been identified as the figure behind the new station, named Szivárvány TV (Rainbow TV). In an interview with Hungarian news outlet Media1, Pataki confirmed he had been developing the concept since 2014, the same year his company registered the channel's domain name.
The timing of the announcement is significant, coming just days after the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that Hungary's 2021 law banning the "portrayal and the promotion of gender identity different from sex at birth, the change of sex and homosexuality" for minors violates EU law. Pataki stated that this legal victory provided the impetus to finally submit the channel for licensing.
"The ruling from the EU court made it clear that now was the time," Pataki explained, while emphasizing that the project is a professional, business-based venture and not tied to any specific political party or recent election results in Hungary. He expressed hope that the national media authority would not attempt to block the licensing process.
The decision to go public was accelerated by pressure from pro-government media. Pataki revealed that Hír TV, a station closely aligned with the ruling Fidesz party, attempted to link the new channel to opposition political movements. He also stated the station aired a phone conversation with him without his consent, an act he believes violated his personal rights.
Pataki is an established figure in the Hungarian media landscape. His portfolio includes Parliament TV and Budapest TV, among others. His company, Eurocable, also holds notable government contracts, providing internet services to locations such as Buda Castle and the Carmelite Monastery, which houses the Prime Minister's office.
The launch of Szivárvány TV represents a notable development for LGBTQ+ visibility in a country where the government has actively passed legislation restricting the rights and representation of the community. The project's success will likely depend on navigating a complex and often hostile political and media environment.
