Radio and Television Supreme Council

Dating shows will not be aired on Turkish TVs this season, an official from the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) was quoted as saying on Aug. 21 at a forum in the northwestern province of Kocaeli.

Turkey's media watchdog Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) cancelled licenses for five TV channels, after the latter did not heed the council's broadcasting ban of 10 days, state-run Anadolu Agency reported on July 20. 

Turkish Family and Social Policies Ministry has announced plans to support TV series that promote family life and which are aimed at children. 

The ministry commenced talks with the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) on the issue and is working to determine the criteria regarding the support, daily Habertürk reported May 23. 

The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) will not ban TV dating shows in Turkey, but it will only let them be aired at times when children do not watch TV, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.

The report came after claims that a state of emergency decree published on April 29 had outlawed television dating shows in the country.

Debate over a recently issued state of emergency decree law is continuing, as a Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) member elected from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) said the new regulations include "hidden threats" against TV channels and radio broadcasters. 

The future of TV dating shows in Turkey remains under a cloud after a state of emergency decree published on April 29, with the country's television watchdog saying a "study is under way" on the matter. 

"We are having the legal consultancy department conduct a study," RTÜK chair Prof. Dr. İlhan Yerlikaya told daily Hürriyet. 

Turkey's television regulator has fined private broadcasters Star TV and NTV for suggesting that watching the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on New Year's Eve "is part of Turkish traditions," daily Posta has reported.

Turkey banned television dating shows with a new state of emergency decree published in the Official Gazette on April 29. 

Ankara declared a state of emergency after the July 15, 2016 military coup attempt, widely believed to have been orchestrated by the movement of the U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen, and has been issuing decrees ever since.

Matchmaking shows are a staple of daytime Turkish TV, but the matrimonial programs might be heading for an unhappy ending as repeated complaints about the shows have elicited promises from officials to meet with an eye to banning them from the airwaves.

Turkey's Supreme Election Board (YSK) will no longer have the power to fine political parties that violate election laws concerning pre-election survey procedures, a decision that drew criticism from opposition parties, which predicts it will lead to an unfair campaign process for the country's upcoming referendum.