Halk TV is a Turkish nationwide TV channel established in 2005. It is known for its relationship with the Republican People's Party (Turkish: Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi, abbreviated CHP), although the previous links were cut off in 2011 under the new CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.[1][2] The Gezi Park protests brought Halk TV into the spotlight as one of the few Turkish television channels to broadcast live coverage of the events.[3][2] Because of this, the Turkish TV regulator RTÜK (Turkish: Radyo ve Televizyon Üst Kurulu) imposed a fine on Halk TV for "harming the physical, moral and mental development of children and young people".[4]
History
Halk TV was established in 2005 "by former CHP accountant Mahmut Yıldız"[1] and received some funding from CHP. When Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu took over the CHP leadership in 2011, CHP cut its funding, leading to severe financial difficulties for Halk TV.[1] Kılıçdaroğlu also asked CHP deputies and members not to appear as guests on the station.[5] Former Esenyurt Mayor Gürbüz Çapan was linked with Halk TV in 2011.[6]
In May 2013 Halk TV was reprimanded by the media regulator RTÜK for broadcasting a "most watched" video from YouTube which it said was aimed at humiliating PM Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.[7]
In early 2020, Halk TV was sold to businessman Cafer Mahiroğlu.[8]
On 28 January 2025, the station's chief editor Serhan Asker were detained along with presenter Seda Selek and independent journalist Baris Pehlivan after the station aired a phone conversation between Pehlivn and a court-appointed expert accused of bias against mayors belonging to the opposition Republican People's Party.[9]
References
- ^ a b c Today's Zaman, 5 February 2011, Halk TV stops broadcasting after CHP cuts financial support Archived 6 June 2016 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b BBC, 4 June 2013, Turks deprived of TV turn to Twitter for protest news
- ^ Sokollu, Senada (1 June 2013). "Solidarity with Istanbul protesters grows in Turkey and abroad". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
- ^ "TV watchdog fines live streaming of Gezi protests for 'harming development of children, youth'". Hürriyet Daily News. 12 June 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
- ^ Today's Zaman, 16 March 2011, Lack of funds, CHP boycott puts Halk TV’s future on the line Archived 1 May 2016 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Haber7.com, 21 November 2011, Eski Esenyurt Belediye Başkanı Gürbüz Çapan, Halk TV'yi satın aldığı yönündeki iddialara açıklama getirdi.
- ^ Hurriyet Daily News, 3 June 2013, Media watchdog warns Halk TV over humiliating PM
- ^ "Halk TV'nin yeni patronu belli oldu". Kartal 24 (in Turkish). 1 April 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ^ "Turkey detains journalists and replaces elected mayor amid crackdown on opposition". Associated Press. 30 January 2025. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
