Faruk Bildirici writes: 'A major transformation in the ownership of news channels'

The number of news channels in Turkey is constantly increasing. Ekol TV, which has recently started broadcasting, is also a news channel. Its owner is Mubariz Mansimov, an Azerbaijani-born businessman who was once included in Forbes magazine's list of the world's 500 richest people. Media ombudsman Faruk Bildirici has written about the major transformation in the ownership of news channels.

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Faruk Bildirici writes: 'A major transformation in the ownership of news channels'

12punto.com.tr / Faruk BİLDİRİCİ

Mansimov, who took the surname 'Gurbanoğlu' after obtaining Turkish citizenship, has established at least 23 companies in Turkey and entered into commercial relations with the Erdoğan family.

He spent about a year in Silivri Prison on charges of "aiding FETÖ." Organized crime leader Sedat Peker had accused former Interior Minister Mehmet Ağar of "setting a trap for Mansimov and seizing the Yalıkavak Marina, which he owned."

Mansimov, whose relationships and commercial journey are full of ups and downs and unknowns, had said "at least I will be able to respond to the baseless news about me" and "I want to make my voice heard" when answering İsmail Saymaz’s question about why he entered the media sector.

Mansimov is the latest name added to the list of news TV owners, but there is an influx of businesspeople into this field. I have found and updated the ownership list of news channels.

The number of news channel owners who come from a broadcasting background or are solely in the broadcasting sector does not exceed the fingers of one hand:

A Haber: Kalyon Holding / Ömer Faruk Kalyoncu
Akit TV: Akit Media Group / Mustafa Karahasanoğlu, Nuri Karahasanoğlu
Bengü Türk: Kutup Yıldızı / Ahmet Turgut (MHP)
Habertürk / Bloomberg HT: Turgay Ciner
CNN Türk: Demirören Media / Yıldırım Demirören
EKOTÜRK TV: Cengiz Özdemir / Ahmet Faruk Karslı
Ekol TV: Palmali Holding / Mubariz Mansimov
Flash Haber TV: Göktuğ Multimedia / Eser Göktuğ Okan and Özge Göktuğ Güleç
Haber Global: Elnur Abdullayev, Mammad Gulmammadov (Azerbaijani capital)
Halk TV: Cafer Mahiroğlu
Kanal 7/ Ülke TV: Beyaz Holding / Zekeriya Karaman
NTV: Doğuş Holding / Ferit Şahenk
KRT TV: Fırat Bozfırat
Sözcü TV: Mega Agency / Burak Akbay
TV Net: Albayrak Media group
TV100: Gülseven Media Group / Necat Gülseven
TGRT Haber: İhlas Media Group / Mücahid Ören
Tele 1: Tele 1 Production / Merdan Yanardağ
TV5: Anadolu Radio and Image Services (Saadet Party)
24 TV: Türk Media / Zeki Yeşildağ
Ulusal TV: Adnan Türkkan (Patriotic Party)

'JOURNALISM IS TURNING INTO A DUBIOUS FIELD'

As can be seen, some of the businesspeople who have become news channel owners in recent years are not exactly well-known names. They suddenly appear and become television owners; they even splash money around and establish 'Media Groups.' It is said that there are different names behind some of them, but this cannot be verified.

When this happens, journalism, which should be transparent and reliable, turns into a dubious field.

The goal of these businesspeople who suddenly invest millions and enter the media sector cannot be to ensure the public is correctly informed or to increase the quality of journalism itself.

What they call 'making their voice heard' is actually deriving power and prestige through a news channel...

News Source: 12punto