Turkish watchdog cancels national broadcast license of critical TV station

The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) has suspended the national broadcast license of Kanaltürk TV, citing an administrative decision from years ago, a legal controversy that adds to concerns that state agencies are stepping up a clampdown on any voice critical of the government.

The decision came as the government dragged its feet on lifting the Twitter ban, which was deemed illegal and unconstitutional by both an Ankara court and the Constitutional Court. The government’s tightening grip on any form of media is of serious concern ahead of local elections.

RTÜK cited a 2010 decision of an administrative court which states the TV station cannot broadcast nationally but is allowed to broadcast regionally. The station began as a regional broadcasting station when it first obtained its license under the previous ownership of Tuncay Özkan.

The station then applied to RÜTK for a national broadcast license but was turned down. The 9th Administrative Court issued a ruling in favor of the TV station in 2010, but RTÜK appealed to higher administrative court for review.

This court decided in favor of RTÜK and canceled Kanaltürk TV’s license. The station administration then announced that it had struck a deal with RTÜK officials and began broadcasting nationally.

Four years later, RTÜK on Wednesday again canceled the national broadcast license of the station, citing the 2010 court decision.

Published on Cihan, 26 March 2014, Wednesday