CHP's Bulut calls for the abolition of the TRT banderole fee

CHP Deputy Chairman responsible for Media and Public Relations Burhanettin Bulut stated, "TRT has become a significant financial burden on the backs of citizens who are forced to pay a TRT Banderole Fee for every device they purchase. TRT's pro-government and unfair stance in its broadcasts has also disturbed tax-paying citizens, bringing them to the point of asking, 'Why are we paying taxes to TRT?'"

Bulut submitted a 'Legislative Proposal on Amending the Law No. 3093 on the Revenues of the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation' to the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM). Calling for the abolition of the TRT Banderole Fee collected from citizens, Bulut noted that TRT, which was established in 1964 as an autonomous public legal entity under the 'Turkish Radio and Television Corporation Law' No. 359 to conduct radio and television broadcasts on behalf of the state, had its autonomy revoked in 1972 and was reorganized as an 'impartial' public economic enterprise.

'TAXES TO TRT'

Pointing out that a vast majority of TRT's revenue consists of taxes collected from citizens, Burhanettin Bulut continued his statement as follows:

“In accordance with the Turkish Radio and Television Revenues Law No. 3093, 'TRT Banderole Fees' are collected from radios, televisions, video players, and combined devices capable of receiving TRT broadcasts. With the removal of the TRT share from electricity bills, the TRT banderole fee on mobile phones, computers, tablets, and other electronic goods was increased to prevent a loss of revenue for the institution. The total banderole tax and banderole revenue obtained by TRT in the 2021-2023 period amounted to 29 billion 545 million 709 thousand TL.

'TRT HAS TURNED INTO A BLACK PROPAGANDA TOOL FOR THE GOVERNMENT'

TRT is a public institution that broadcasts with the taxes of our nation and is required to be impartial in its broadcasts. The responsibility to be impartial is enshrined in the Turkish Radio and Television Law No. 2954 and the Law No. 6112 on the Establishment and Broadcast Services of Radio and Television, which it is obligated to comply with. However, TRT, which broadcasts with the taxes of 86 million citizens, has turned into a black propaganda tool for the government alongside the AKP administrations. TRT, which only features news from the government, ignores the opposition, and undermines democracy, disregards a large segment of society. The only corporate principle of TRT, which ignores laws and the Constitution and commits crimes, is to serve the government and ignore the opposition.

'CITIZENS ARE REACTIVE'

A broadcasting approach that ignores and punishes the public with the taxes it collects from them, and is committed to only one political party, is unacceptable. The reckless, target-setting, and lawless news reports of TRT—which removes artists who share boycott posts on social media from series projects, does not even broadcast the advertisements of political parties despite their payment, and does not grant the right to breathe to anyone who is not in the government's climate of thought—are also drawing reactions from citizens.

'TRT IS A BURDEN ON THE CITIZEN'

While the ethical principles of the press profession are clear, TRT has become a significant financial burden on the backs of citizens who are forced to pay a TRT Banderole Fee for every device they purchase. This biased and unfair stance of TRT has also disturbed tax-paying citizens, bringing them to the point of asking, 'Why are we paying taxes to TRT?' This Legislative Proposal has been prepared with the aim of alleviating the fixed tax burden on the backs of citizens by abolishing the TRT Banderole Fee.”