TELE1 had apologized: Investigation launched into 'What is the difference between RTE and Netanyahu?' chyron

An investigation has been launched regarding a chyron written about AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the program titled 'Türkiye’nin Yönü' (Turkey's Direction), which is broadcast on the television channel TELE1.

An ex officio investigation has been launched against the channel's Editor-in-Chief Merdan Yanardağ, Responsible Manager İhsan Demir, and Program Moderator Musa Özuğurlu for the crime of 'publicly insulting the President' due to the 'What is the difference between RTE and Netanyahu?' chyron displayed during the program.

TELE1 HAD APOLOGIZED

In a statement regarding the matter, the TELE1 editorial board said, "Although it is not a statement containing a definitive judgment, we do not find this sentence, which is open to misinterpretation, to be correct. We apologize for this error, which stemmed from our control room staff and was made inadvertently. We would also like to state that we will take the necessary decisions after conducting an administrative investigation."

"Last night (September 21, 2025), on the 'Türkiye’nin Yönü' program aired on Tele1, an expression that we, as the channel management, absolutely do not approve of was used in the subtitle, which we call a chyron in professional terminology, even if only for a short time (approximately one minute). Although an evaluation regarding the Trump-Erdoğan meeting was being made on the program, a comparison between Erdoğan and Netanyahu was included in the chyron. Although it is not a statement containing a definitive judgment, we do not find this sentence, which is open to misinterpretation, to be correct. We apologize for this error, which stemmed from our control room staff and was made inadvertently. We would also like to state that we will take the necessary decisions after conducting an administrative investigation."

News Source: İHA