Ez a cikk magyarul is elérhető, kattintson ide, ha inkább magyarul olvasná. / This article is available in Hungarian also, click here if you want to read it in that language.
RTL Hungary has launched a media support collaboration with Molnár Martin, a promising new talent in Hungarian motorsport, and his management team, MOTAM – Motorsport Talent Management.
“The goal of the partnership is to introduce the 16-year-old Formula 4 driver, who competes in the British F4 Championship, to the Hungarian public and to accompany him on his journey towards Formula 1,” RTL announced on Saturday morning.
The statement includes a quote from Tamás Őry, CEO of MOTAM Kft., who said:
“Martin’s talent and dedication are unquestionable, but in today’s world, building a successful sports career also requires strategic media presence and branding. Our cooperation with RTL Hungary is exemplary in Hungarian sports and opens new horizons for Martin’s career.”
What RTL’s press release did not mention is that Tamás Őry is the brother-in-law of Péter Szijjártó, Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Őry’s wife, Sarolta Szijjártó — the minister’s sister — also owns a significant stake in the parent company of MOTAM Kft., the agency managing Molnár Martin’s career.
Motorsport, and the Minister’s Family
Tamás Őry and Sarolta Szijjártó have previously appeared in the media. According to a report by 24.hu, citing Helsingin Sanomat, they acquired the KymiRing racetrack in Finland through a company named TRP Hungary Kft. Ownership records from the company registry service Opten show that Tamás Őry owns 45% of TRP, Sarolta Szijjártó 20%, and <strong”>Balázs Molnár 35%.
As Media1 previously reported, the couple’s company, then named Truck Race Promotion Kft. (now TRP Hungary), also received 181 million forints in funding from Hungary’s state-owned lottery company, Szerencsejáték Zrt.
More and More NER Ties Around RTL
In recent years, an increasing number of ties have emerged between RTL Hungary and business or media actors close to Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party and its System of National Cooperation (NER).
Last year, RTL signed a strategic agreement with telecom giant 4iG / ONE, a company closely linked to the Orbán government, establishing a strong dependency on this pro-government business group.
Shortly afterward, Indamedia — which controls both Index.hu and Port.hu, and is considered a Fidesz-friendly media group — became a key partner to RTL. The companies even launched joint programming together.
Some of RTL’s current presenters also previously worked for HírTV, a government-aligned news channel. Notably, Orsolya Heer, who used to be a presenter at HírTV, is now one of the main anchors of RTL’s evening news.
Was the RTL CEO Appointed as Part of a Political Deal?
One of the most controversial developments surfaced when documents and audio recordings were leaked to the press. These suggest that RTL Hungary’s current CEO may have been appointed as part of a covert political pact with the Orbán government.
According to the evidence, RTL agreed in 2015 to replace its previous CEO — known for strong criticism of the government — in exchange for a reduction of the advertising tax, which had disproportionately affected RTL. The new CEO, Gabriella Vidus, was allegedly seen as more acceptable by János Lázár, then minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office.
This issue is currently the subject of an ongoing court case in Luxembourg, where RTL Group’s CLT UFA is headquartered. The ousted CEO claims the dismissal was politically motivated, which would constitute a violation under Luxembourg labor law.
Billions in State Ad Spending at RTL
Despite its strained relations with the government in the past, RTL Hungary has continued to benefit from state advertising revenue. While the company declined to provide exact figures in response to Media1‘s inquiries — prompting a formal complaint to Hungary’s Data Protection and Freedom of Information Authority — insider sources say RTL earned over 2 billion HUF + VAT in net state ad revenue in 2024 alone.
Given that RTL posted a 3.3 billion HUF loss last year, this public money is a significant financial lifeline. Without state funding, the company’s total losses for 2024 could have exceeded 5 billion HUF.
We contacted RTL Group, the parent company of RTL Hungary, and its owner, Bertelsmann, with the following questions:
- Were they aware that the company entering into the media partnership with RTL Hungary is partly owned by close relatives of Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, a key figure in Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government?
- Do they consider this business relationship compatible with RTL Group’s and Bertelsmann’s corporate governance and editorial independence standards?
- Have any steps been taken at the group level to assess or address potential reputational or ethical risks related to this partnership?
The response finally arrived a day later, on Tuesday, from RTL Hungary. They stated that, in their view, the collaboration raises no concerns and does not compromise their editorial independence. Click here for the full details.
Az RTL nem lát abban kivetnivalót, hogy leszerződött Szijjártó rokonaival
RTL’s Official Announcement of the Deal
Below is RTL’s official statement announcing the media partnership with MOTAM Kft., owned in part by relatives of Minister Péter Szijjártó:
RTL Hungary has launched a media support collaboration with Molnár Martin and his management team (MOTAM – Motorsport Talent Management), a new hopeful in Hungarian motorsports. The partnership aims to introduce the 16-year-old driver, currently racing in the British Formula 4 Championship, to Hungarian audiences and follow his journey toward Formula 1.
In 2024, Molnár made his international motorsport debut, achieving five podium finishes and seven rookie wins, finishing eighth overall. In 2025, he continues in British F4 with the respected Virtuosi Racing team, already making history as the first Hungarian to win a race in an FIA-sanctioned Formula 4 championship.
As part of the partnership, RTL launched a documentary series titled “Molnár Martin’s Road to Formula 1 – The 2025 British F4 Season” on RTL+ Premium. The show follows Martin’s racing weekends, training, school life, and the personal challenges of a young athlete’s path to professional racing.
Szabó Balázs, Deputy CEO for Content at RTL Hungary:
“RTL is committed not only to entertaining but also to inspiring our viewers. Martin’s journey is about talent, perseverance, and ambition — all values we stand for. We’re proud to support him.”
Molnár Martin:
“It’s incredible to have one of Hungary’s biggest media companies backing my dream. Formula 1 is a tough goal, but knowing Hungarian fans are following me thanks to RTL gives me extra motivation.”
Tamás Őry, CEO of MOTAM:
“In today’s world, a successful sports career is not just about talent and hard work — it’s also about smart media visibility and branding. This partnership with RTL is a new milestone in Martin’s career and a major step for Hungarian motorsport.”
The collaboration is part of RTL’s broader strategy to highlight inspiring Hungarian success stories and support young talent.
This article is available in Hungarian also, click here.
Még több hír érhető el a Media1-en. Megtalálhat minket Facebookon is. Feliratkozhat napi hírlevelünkre is.Szijjártó rokonai az RTL új partnerei – egyre több NER-es szál a csatornánál
