Turkey’s satellite operator Türksat will cease broadcast of a number of channels critical of the government.
The satellite operator has issued a notice, informing channels critical of the government that they must end their broadcasts in a month’s time, after which period their contracts will be terminated. Three channels received the notice, Irmak TV, Bugün TV and Kanaltürk.
Turksat’s move follows in the footsteps of digital satellite platform Teledünya, cable provider Digiturk, online TV streamer Turkcell TV+ and Tivibu all having already cut seven opposition networks – Bugün TV, Kanaltürk, Samanyolu TV, S Haber, Mehtap TV, Irmak TV and even the children’s channel Yumurcak TV.
According to local press reports, Digitürk, which commands an audience of over one million subscribers, justified its move by saying it was following an order from the Ankara Public Prosecutor’s Office, which alleged that the TV channels support a terrorist organisation.
Consumers Association (TÜDER) President Aydin Agaoglu said that the banning of the TV channels could lead to consumers filing lawsuits against the platforms for violating their contracts. “Companies cannot cancel TV channels that are set out in the contract before the contract term ends or the consumers are informed.”
“This is the AK Party’s effort to silence opposition media in the run-up to the general election,” Ismet Demirdögen, an opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) member of the Radio and Television watchdog RTÜK, said to BGNNews.com.
A number of channels is now moving to other satellites.
