US government-funded broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty relaunched a Hungarian-language service Tuesday for the first time in 27 years citing a "steep decline in media freedom" in Hungary. RFE/RL operated a Munich-based Hungarian-language radio service from the beginning of Hungary's four-decade-long communist period in 1949 until 1993. The relaunch of a Hungarian service was "in response to the dramatic constriction of the country's media landscape" said RFE/RL on its website. Citing the EU country's 16-point-drop to 89th place in media watchdog Reporters Without Borders' 2020 World Press Freedom Index, it said Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban had taken control of public media and most of private media "either directly or indirectly". Around 10 journalists will run an internet news-site with multimedia content including video reports and podcasts, said RFE/RL, which is financed by the US Congress. The site will offer "state-of-the art programming," according to RFE/RL acting President Daisy Sindelar. Their team is "determined to be the go-to source for reliable, unbiased news," she said. International observers say a lopsided media landscape and restricted access to information helped Orban win a third consecutive term as premier in 2018. Last week a group of 16 European press freedom groups urged the EU to respond to complaints that state aid to Hungarian public broadcaster MTVA and pro-government outlets "stacks the decks" against the few remaining independent broadcasters. In July the 80-strong newsroom at the country's top independent news website Index.hu resigned en masse in protest over alleged political influence. RFE/RL's move follows the relaunch of its Bulgarian and Romanian services in 2018, also citing declining media freedom in those countries. pmu/jsk/lc