The criteria for granting these frequencies are fairly loose and are not based on any monetary considerations. For example, applicants are granted frequencies if they serve the public or if there is a public need for such a station. A consor-tium formed by BBC, Deutsche Welle, and Radio France was also denied a frequency, but a new organization that includes an HTLP deputy and city council member received a license. In addition, a radio station that repre-sented the Roma community was denied a frequency. The body has offered little explanation for its decisions.
Political interests dominate the private mass media as well.
In 1997, two frequencies, previously used by state channels, were leased via a public concession. In March 1998, the Budapest Metropolitan Court upheld the NRTB's deci-sion. But on appeal, the Supreme Court held in favor of CME, ruled RTL's tender invalid, and ordered the NRTB to cancel its contract with RTL Klub. NRTB refused, referring to a 1957 law that denies the right of the courts to instruct state bodies in administrative matters. But then, in late February, the owners of TV2 and RTL Klub purchased TV3 from CME, ended its broadcasting activity, and withdrew the earlier petition to the Supreme Court.