23.03.2025 21:00
TV8, which broadcasted the match where our national team faced Hungary in the UEFA Nations League playoff round return leg, announced that the match was delayed due to issues with the advertisements on the boards at Puskas Arena, resulting in the game being filmed with a single camera. It was also noticeable that the advertisement boards appeared white during the TV8 broadcast.
Our national team faced Hungary away in the UEFA Nations League playoff round return match. During the match, a notable statement came from the broadcaster TV8.
ADVERTISING DISPUTE WITH THE HUNGARIAN FEDERATION TV8 announced that the Hungary-Turkey match was filmed with a single camera due to issues with the advertisements on the boards at the sidelines, and therefore the match was broadcast with a delay.
In a statement from TV8, it was said, "Our channel has experienced issues due to advertisements unrelated to us during the Hungary-Turkey match. For this reason, we have to broadcast today's match without showing the sideline advertisements and with a delay."
ADVERTISING BOARDS ARE WHITE Additionally, it was noted that the advertising boards at the sidelines during the TV8 broadcast of the Hungary-Turkey match were white. Throughout the match, the commentator frequently mentioned that close-up cameras could not be used due to the sensitivity of not showing the advertising boards.
IMAGE: TV8 WHAT HAPPENED? Recently, an indictment was prepared against Acun Ilıcalı by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office as part of an illegal betting investigation, based on the detection of advertisements for unlicensed and illegal betting sites using virtual advertising techniques in football matches broadcast on TV8 and the Exxen platform he owns, in violation of Law No. 7258. Ilıcalı defended himself by stating that they could not intervene in the broadcasts and that the footage came from the broadcaster in the country where the match was played.
In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it was noted that the investigation was initiated ex officio, and that a request for detection of illegal betting advertisements during match broadcasts was made to the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) and the Cyber Crime Branch of the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command.
According to the response from RTÜK, it was stated in the indictment that during the broadcast of the Montenegro-Turkey football match played on November 19, 2024, by the media service provider named TV8 Broadcasting Inc. and the on-demand media service provider named Exxen Digital Broadcasting Inc., advertisements for unlicensed and illegal betting sites were placed on the stadium advertising boards and next to both goals using virtual advertising techniques, and administrative sanctions were applied regarding this.
According to the letter from the Cyber Crime Branch, it was reported in the indictment that summaries of the football matches between LOSC (Lille)-Fenerbahçe on August 6, 2024, Iceland-Turkey on October 14, 2024, and Wales-Turkey on September 6, 2024, were shared on the Exxen sports YouTube channel, and that advertisements for unlicensed and illegal betting sites were similarly placed in these videos.
In the indictment, it was stated that all matches whose summaries were broadcast on the Exxen Sports YouTube channel were obtained from RTÜK and sent to the Cyber Crime Branch of the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command for examination, and that it was determined that the aforementioned betting advertisements were broadcasted as a result of the examinations.
In the indictment, it was requested that Ali Acun Ilıcalı, Chairman of the Board of Directors of TV8 TV Broadcasting Inc. and Exxen Digital Broadcasting Inc., Ebru Atasav Tahrancı, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of both companies, Mustafa Tarık, Member of the Board of Directors of TV8 TV Broadcasting Inc., Responsible Manager Bülent Uçak, General Editor Aslı Yaşaroğlu, General Manager of Exxen Digital Broadcasting Inc. Ümmü Burhan, Responsible Manager Burcu Batu Fakir, and the Broadcasting Directors of both companies, Attila Ceciloğlu, be sentenced to imprisonment from 1 year and 3 months to 5 years and 3 months for the crime of "encouraging individuals to place bets or play chance games based on sports competitions through advertising and other means."