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Eutelsat in Turkish TV spat

October 3, 2016

By Chris Forrester

Paris-based Eutelsat is being caught up in Turkey’s political problems. Last week Turkish media authorities ruled that some 20 TV and radio stations be taken off air because of their opposition to the government.

The now banned broadcasters favour Kurdish and other opposition groups in Turkey.

Eutelsat reportedly received a formal letter instructing the satellite operator to take down a channel (Med Nuçe TV) which it was carrying. The news caused a 3-hour public protest demonstration outside Eutelsat’s Paris HQ on September 30th which needed a “heavy police presence” ordering the protesters to disperse.

France Democratic Kurdish Council (CDK-F) officials met with Eutelsat officials and afterwards made the announcement that “Eutelsat officials have admitted that the Turkish state has sent a letter to Eutelsat via RTÜK (Radio and Television Supreme Council) demanding Med Nuçe’s broadcast be stopped.”

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