Halk TV

The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) has imposed an administrative fine and two program suspensions on FOX TV for airing the contentious series Kızıl Goncalar (Red Rosebuds).

The decision comes in response to over 31,000 complaints received, RTÜK said on Dec. 28, citing violations of national and spiritual values.

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has extended his support behind the possible reelection bid of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, in the face of internal pressures for change within the party initiated by the mayor himself.

Turkish authorities have arrested and imprisoned a 16-year-old teenager for adding a mustache to an election campaign poster featuring President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as reported by AFP citing local media.

Photo Illustration: Pinho/Unsplash

"The RTUK made it clear in today's meeting that it aims to bring critical broadcasters in line before the election," Tasci wrote on Twitter.

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has said that his party has been working on a plan aimed at bringing a new economic and political vision to Türkiye.

Photo Illustration: Pinho/Unsplash

"Tele 1 was fined for the same reasons as other media houses. RTUK penalises media houses that report the truth and do journalism. They want us to stop reporting," Murat Taylan, General Coordinator at Tele 1 TV, told BIRN.

Taylan added that RTUK has become a government mechanism to control Turkey's remaining independent media.

Illustration: Tim Mossholder/Unsplash

Sozcu, one of Turkey's most read daily newspapers, bought the local TV station over a year ago and made all the preparations necessary for the start of nationwide broadcasting.

But RTUK has stopped the launch of Sozcu TV in its tracks, by not accepting its application for a change of logo, Sozcu said on Thursday.

Turkish Journalists Association (TGC) has slammed Radio and Television Supreme Council's (RTÜK) decision to fine FOX TV, Halk TV, and Tele1, saying the ruling "is a direct intervention to the profession of journalism and is against the Constitution."

Turkey's television watchdog has ordered a halt to a television program on Halk TV for five episodes, while also ruling for a fine, over remarks of two famous actors on the president in a previous episode.

"As always" my friend Zeynep said on the phone, tired but in an incredibly excited voice, "there is a bit of chaos here at the [main opposition Republican People's Party] CHP's final rally in Istanbul. But I have never seen anything like this before.