Acun Ilıcalı prepares to acquire Show TV following IPO

TV8 TV Yayıncılık A.Ş., owned by Acun Ilıcalı, had announced on the Public Disclosure Platform (KAP) that it had applied to the Capital Markets Board (SPK) for an initial public offering (IPO) through both a capital increase and a sale of shares.

Before becoming a media mogul, Ilıcalı worked as a sports reporter at Show TV during the Karamehmet era and sold the first productions of his television career to the same channel.

In 2013, the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) seized Show TV, Sky Türk, 360 TV, and BMC due to the Çukurova Group's 70 million dollar debt. Following the seizure, Show TV was sold to the Ciner Group approximately 15 days later for 402 million dollars without a tender process.

Acun Ilıcalı had previously stated that he left Show TV before the TMSF seized the channel without receiving payment for 106 episodes of his program; he also noted that when the TMSF transferred the channel to Turgay Ciner, it had initially made the payment of the channel's debts a condition. Ilıcalı has also mentioned on various occasions that he purchased TV8 with money received from the TMSF and a partner.

On the other hand, rumors have begun to circulate that the media outlets affiliated with Can Medya, which were seized by the TMSF, will be sold in pieces rather than as a single entity. Following this development, claims have emerged that Acun Ilıcalı is preparing to purchase Show TV, Show Türk, and Show Max, which are included in the sale.

Three years ago, on Candaş Tolga Işık's program, Ilıcalı described how he left Show TV as follows: