6 million lira fine for S Sport, owned by Sadettin Saran

Football match broadcasts have been placed under investigation as part of inquiries into illegal betting. The Ministry of Trade's Advertising Board has examined match highlights on YouTube from the digital broadcasting platform S Sport, which is owned by businessman Saadettin Saran, Chairman of the Board of Saran Group.

According to a report by Patronlar Dünyası, it was determined that the channel featured 'betting' advertisements in the highlights of the Serie A match between Juventus and Parma, which ended in a 2-2 draw. In its defense, the company stated that the content was sent by the broadcaster to all countries and that the promotions were not targeted at Turkey.

However, the board's evaluation document emphasized that the illegal betting advertisements in question were not of a nature that would appear in the original match broadcast, and that even if they were legal in the country where the match took place, that would not justify airing such promotions.

'DETERMINATION OF RETROACTIVELY ADDED ADVERTISING'

The evaluation noted that the promotions included the phrases "Turkish Giant Extrabet" along with a "Turkish flag" visual, pointing out that this created an impression of legality and that "advertisements added to the original broadcast retroactively" could reach more people through highlight clips on social media platforms.

'ENCOURAGING GAMBLING'

The evaluation document also underlined that the content could have been 'intervened with' and stated that illegal betting advertisements continued to be featured.

As a result of the investigation, it was stated that the promotions were of a nature that aroused the curiosity of football viewers, encouraged consumers to participate in live betting, and promoted gambling.

On the grounds that the promotions violated the provisions of the relevant article, an administrative fine of 6 million lira was imposed on 'Bravo Televizyon Yayıncılık Yapımcılık San. ve Tic. A.Ş.', the company that owns S Sport. The board also issued a decision to stop the aforementioned advertisements.

SAADETTİN SARAN HAD RECEIVED A TRAVEL BAN

Sadettin Saran had previously given a statement as part of the illegal betting investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. A travel ban decision had been issued against Saran.

News Source: 12punto