26.06.2025 20:10
The RTÜK imposed various penalties on 4 television channels and 2 digital platforms due to broadcasting violations. Tele1, Halk TV, and SZC TV, as well as Netflix and Spotify, received the maximum fines on the grounds that their content exceeded the limits of criticism.
The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) imposed penalties on 4 television channels and 2 digital platforms due to broadcasting violations.
According to a statement from RTÜK, broadcasting violations were evaluated during the Supreme Council meeting held today.
PENALTY FOR TELE 1
During the meeting, it was concluded that the expressions "political Islam" and "Islamic fascism" used by journalist Merdan Yanardağ in the "4 Questions 4 Answers" program on Tele1 exceeded the limits of criticism. Due to these expressions, the channel was fined at the maximum administrative penalty.
PENALTY OF BROADCAST SUSPENSION FOR HALK TV
It was assessed that some expressions used by Prof. Dr. Tolga Yarman, who was a guest on the "Uncensored" program aired on Halk TV, during his evaluations of foreign policy could lead to sectarian discrimination and polarization in the public.
Halk TV was given a 10-day broadcast suspension penalty on the grounds that the broadcast violated the rule stating, "It cannot incite hatred and enmity in society by considering differences of race, language, religion, gender, class, region, and sect, nor can it create feelings of hatred in society." In the same program, the expressions used by CHP Istanbul Deputy Yunus Emre regarding a public official, "You are the people who ruin Turkey" and "Which foreign powers do you represent?" were found to violate personal rights, be humiliating, and contain accusations.
RTÜK concluded that these words violated the rule stating, "It cannot be contrary to the principle of respecting human dignity and the privacy of private life; it cannot contain humiliating, degrading, or defamatory expressions beyond the limits of criticism regarding individuals or organizations," and decided to impose the maximum administrative penalty on Halk TV.
SZC TV ALSO FINED
In the programs "Before and After Night" and "The Essence of the Word" aired on SZC TV, the retired Admiral Türker Ertürk's characterization of Turkey's foreign policy as "subcontracting to the Greater Middle East Project," "indirect support to Israel," and "preparing the ground for regime changes" was evaluated by the council as accusatory and discrediting expressions against the state and constitutional institutions.
Additionally, during the meeting, it was assessed that associating cross-border military operations with Israel's security meant criminalizing the state's security policies, and it was concluded that the broadcasts targeted both the government and the state's institutional foreign policy approach, undermining public trust in the state, leading to the imposition of the maximum fine on the channel.
During the Supreme Council meeting, it was determined that the tele-shopping programs on Rumeli TV were conducted in violation of the durations and notification obligations to RTÜK. This situation was evaluated as leading to unfair competition, and the channel was fined at the maximum administrative penalty.
NETFLIX AND SPOTIFY ALSO RECEIVED PENALTIES
During the meeting, it was decided that the intense violence and sexual assault scenes in the film "Barda" aired on Netflix were at a level that would disturb the public. The content was found to violate the principles of "It cannot promote or normalize violence" and "It cannot be contrary to the national and moral values of society, general morality, and the protection of the family," leading to the imposition of the maximum administrative penalty on the platform.
RTÜK, which found the profane and slang expressions in some songs on Spotify to be contrary to the national and moral values of society, general morality, and the principles of protecting the family and the correct use of Turkish, imposed the maximum fine on the platform along with a penalty of removal from the catalog.
ACCESS RESTRICTION TO SOME SITES
RTÜK conducted a new examination regarding the domain names "dw.com," "dwturkce.com," and "inspiredminds.de," which were restricted due to the lack of a broadcasting license.
In the latest assessment made by the Presidency of the Monitoring and Evaluation Department, it was determined that these sites only contained audiovisual news content that could be evaluated within the scope of press activity and that previously problematic content had been removed. Consequently, the access restriction to these sites was lifted.