Turkey’s media regulator has imposed fines and program suspensions on three television stations over content it said violated broadcasting rules, including remarks targeting an elderly contestant, violent scenes in a foreign film and insulting language on a football show.
The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), Turkey’s broadcast regulator, said after a meeting on Tuesday that it penalized TV8, TLC and Kanal 26 under Law No. 6112, which governs radio and television broadcasts.
RTÜK said it fined TLC and ordered a program suspension over the April 13 airing of a 2023 movie titled “Kill!”, ruling that the film was dominated by violence. The council said the scenes normalized violence and violated a provision banning content that encourages or desensitizes viewers to violence.
TV8 was fined over remarks directed at a 70-year-old retired civil servant, Sema Develioğlu, during the April 7 episode of a cooking competition show.
RTÜK said other contestants used language that humiliated and insulted Develioğlu because of her age and physical condition, despite her warnings not to comment on her age. The council said the host did not intervene and noted that the program was prerecorded, meaning the remarks were left in the edited version that aired.
The regulator said the comments violated the legal principle requiring respect for human dignity and privacy and banning humiliating, degrading or defamatory statements that go beyond the limits of criticism.
Kanal 26 was also fined over comments made during the April 13 broadcast of the football program “Açık Futbol.” RTÜK said the remarks included insulting and profane language that violated the same provision on human dignity.
RTÜK has the authority to fine broadcasters, suspend programs and impose other penalties over content it says violates Turkish broadcasting law. Critics have long accused the regulator of using its powers selectively, particularly against outlets seen as critical of the government.