Türksat removes 12 controversial channels
September 30, 2016
By Chris Forrester
Turkey’s recent political problems have resulted in 12 TV channels being taken off air by Türksat.
Their removal follows the issue of a State of Emergency decree, and subsequently published in the country’s Official Gazette. The TV channels removed from Türksat include Hayatın Sesi, Van TV, Jiyan TV, Azadi TV and Zarok TV. Their broadcasts had already been halted after Turkey’s Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) notified Türksat on the issue.
Four of the channels were transmitting in Kurdish, and other were considered pro-Kurdish according to local reports. Eleven radio stations have also been taken down.
Turkish press agency Anadolu says the channels were removed because of the “threat they pose to national security”.
The latest enforced cull means that the Turkish government has taken down 16 TV channels, 23 radio stations, 45 newspapers, 3 news agencies, 15 magazines and 29 publishing houses because of their alleged links with opposition parties.