RTÜK imposes fines on Halk TV and NOW TV

The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) decided in its latest meeting to impose two separate administrative fines on Halk TV and NOW TV. The penalties were approved by a majority vote.

RTÜK's decision regarding Halk TV stemmed from a segment on the program "Para Siyaset," where the resignation of Keçiören Mayor Mesut Özarslan from the Republican People's Party (CHP) was being discussed. During the program, journalist Uğur Dündar quoted a line from poet Can Yücel, using the phrase "G.te g.t denir" (a spade is called a spade). Due to these remarks, the council imposed an administrative fine on Halk TV amounting to 2 percent of its broadcasting revenue.

NOW TV was penalized due to the heavy focus on extramarital affairs and betrayal in three different episodes of its series titled "Kıskanmak." According to RTÜK's statement, it was decided that the channel must pay an administrative fine of 3 percent of its revenue on the grounds that these themes contradict national and spiritual values and social morality, and also undermine the institution of the family.

It was noted that the decisions were reached by a majority vote among council members.

CHP's RTÜK member Tuncay Keser objected to the institution's decisions, stating, "Impartiality is a fundamental criterion for RTÜK as well as for media service providers. Despite similar content being broadcast by numerous media service providers, the constant penalization of the same channels casts a shadow over impartiality."