Warning to YouTube broadcasters from RTÜK President: 'We will not allow evasion of licensing!'

RTÜK President Ebubekir Şahin spoke on a YouTube program hosted by the pro-government newspaper Sabah.

Şahin made statements on many topics, ranging from CHP leader Özgür Özel's boycott call to the licensing of YouTube broadcasts.

"THEY ARE PUTTING US IN THE POSITION OF A 'PUNITIVE PRESIDENT'"

Regarding the penalties RTÜK imposes on broadcasting organizations, Şahin said, "I always say, as the RTÜK President, I am not a person who walks around proudly saying I issued a penalty. I want to be known for not issuing penalties, but there is nothing to be done. Unfortunately, our broadcasters, with the mistakes they make, put us in the position of a 'punitive president' every time. There is nothing to be done about this, it is the nature of our job."

'THE BOYCOTT DID NOT REACH ITS GOAL'

Regarding the question, 'How do you view CHP Chairman Özgür Özel's boycott call?', RTÜK President Şahin stated the following: "It is not possible for us to accept it in its entirety. I do not think Mr. Özgür Özel understands this very well either. He himself said, 'It was a reaction that came from the students at that moment, and I said it.' I personally believe that a chairman at the head of a main opposition party should be more careful with rhetoric that will mobilize millions. It is not possible for me to accept any radio or television station or a broadcasting organization affiliated with us being targeted due to a boycott in this sense. We did not accept it anyway. The boycott that was carried out did not reach its goal either. We saw later, both in ratings and measurements, that more people supported them."