Hungary became a Christian kingdom in A.D. 1000 and for many centuries served as a bulwark against Ottoman Turkish expansion in Europe. The kingdom eventually became part of the polyglot Austro-Hungarian Empire, which collapsed during World War I. The country fell under Communist rule following World War II. In 1956, a revolt and an announced withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact were met with a massive military intervention by Moscow. Under the leadership of Janos Kadar in 1968, Hungary began liberalizing its economy, introducing so-called "Goulash Communism." Hungary held its first multiparty elections in 1990 and initiated a free market economy. It joined NATO in 1999 and the EU five years later. In 2011, Hungary assumed the six-month rotating presidency of the EU for the first time.

Broadcast media in Hungary is a mixed system of state-supported public service broadcast media and private broadcasters. The three publicly-owned TV channels and the two main privately-owned TV stations are the major national broadcasters. A large number of special interest channels have emerged, and there is a highly developed market for satellite and cable TV services with about two-thirds of viewers using multichannel services. Three state-supported public-service radio networks and two major national commercial station exist. Additionally, there are a large number of local stations including commercial, public service, nonprofit, and community radio stations.

There are more than 40 daily newspapers in Hungary, and more than 1,600 print publications.