570 penalties for broadcasters from RTÜK in one year! Statement from Minister Ersoy: It doesn't matter if they are pro-government or opposition!

Responses have been provided to questions regarding RTÜK asked by opposition deputies during the commission stage of budget negotiations.

According to the report by Ceren Bayar from Gazete Duvar, in response to the question asked by CHP Manisa Deputy Ahmet Vehbi Bakırlıoğlu and IYI Party Tekirdağ Deputy Selcan Taşçı to Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, to whom RTÜK is affiliated, asking, "Why are very high penalties imposed on opposition channels while no penalties are given to pro-government broadcasting organizations? Are these activities of the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) in accordance with its founding purposes?”, it was noted that the council imposed 570 penalties in 2023.

In the response, which stated that 85 percent of the 570 penalties were directed at broadcasting organizations that threaten public health, aim to mislead viewers, and do not comply with commercial communication durations, it was noted that “Broadcast inspections at the Supreme Council are meticulously carried out by Supreme Council experts.”

The response further stated, "In the inspections carried out by our Supreme Council experts, no distinction is made between broadcasters, and whether a broadcaster is ‘opposition or pro-government’ has no significance for our experts or the inspections conducted. It is not possible for us to accept categorizing our organizations with such an assessment.”

DEM Party Diyarbakır Deputy Sevilay Çelenk also recalled that the council approved a public service announcement titled "Stop LGBT Propaganda" organized by the Istanbul Family Foundation and asked, “Why did the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) produce a public service announcement against LGBT?”

In response, it was stated that “The Supreme Council examines films in the nature of informative and educational public service announcements prepared by public institutions and organizations as well as non-governmental organizations upon their request, in accordance with the provisions of the relevant Law, and issues a recommendation decision for those that comply with broadcasting principles,” and the phrase “The public service announcement in question was also prepared by the relevant organizations and submitted to our Council, and a recommendation decision was issued for its broadcast within the scope of the relevant legislation” was used.

News Source: 12punto