As part of an espionage investigation, TELE 1 Editor-in-Chief Merdan Yanardağ was arrested. While Yanardağ was in custody, a trustee was appointed to the channel by the TMSF. Following this development, the future of the channel and what the employees would do became a topic of discussion.
"THIS IS NO LONGER TELE 1"
Journalist Musa Özuğurlu, who hosts the Sabah Pusulası program on the channel, announced their resignation in a statement to İrem Karataş from Cumhuriyet TV.
Özuğurlu said, "We are a channel known for its political identity. Our priority is politics. If we are to think that these will not exist, then that place is no longer the TELE 1 of two days ago."
TRUSTEE SAID "CONTINUE IF YOU WANT"...
Stating that the trustee told them "Continue if you want," Özuğurlu emphasized that this offer was unacceptable:
"But this is not a brick factory. There is a stance here. They expect us to present programs like talking machines without taking a political stance. It is impossible for such a thing to happen. This offer has no meaning. As on-air personalities and executives, we have decided to resign."
"VIEWERSHIP DROPPED TO ZERO"
Özuğurlu also stated that the channel's viewership ratings dropped to zero following the trustee decision.
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into detained IMM President and CHP Presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu, election campaign director Necati Özkan, and TELE 1 Editor-in-Chief Merdan Yanardağ on charges of "political espionage."
Following the detention of Yanardağ as part of the investigation, a trustee was appointed to the channel. İmamoğlu, Özkan, and Yanardağ, who gave statements to the prosecutor's office, denied the accusations. However, all three were arrested by the court they were brought before and sent to prison.
News Source: 12punto
