HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF RADIO AND TELEVISION BROADCASTING
IN TURKEY

 

A Brief History of Radio and Television Broadcasts

Until 1963

        

 

            The history of radio broadcasts dates back to the first qu­ar­ter of the 20th century. The first official radio broadcast was carried out in 1922 by the British Broadcasting Cor­po­ra­ti­on (BBC). The first regular television program was also broadcast by the BBC in 1936. Turkish radio broadcasts first began on 6 May 1927 in İstanbul. 

 

            With the enactment of the "Wireless Installation Law" in 1925 wireless stations began to be built in Ankara and İstanbul. In order to use these stations for radio broadcasts, the ne­ces­sary equipment was added to the 5 kW. PTT trans­mit­ters (1925-1927) and the first radio broadcasts began in Ankara. (With the February 24, 1924 passage of the Law on Telegraphs and Telephones, authorization for radio broadcasting was given to the Directorate General of the PTT.)

 

            Fol­lo­wing these test broadcasts, the "Turkish Wi­re­less Inc." (TTTAŞ) was founded by İş Bank. The Anatolian News Agency, two de­pu­ti­es and a businessman, were given sole bro­ad­cas­ting ma­na­ge­ment rights for 10 years and broadcasting began on 6 May 1927. Based on a contract between the Corporation and the In­te­ri­or Ministry, radio broadcasts included news programs, con­certs, weather reports and lectures on a variety of sub­jects for the public's benefit. 

 

            A few months later, in October 1927, Ankara Radio star­ted its regular broadcasts which we­re aired everyday from 19.00 to 22.00 via 5 kW transmitters. At the time, there were 1,178 receivers in Turkey. 

 

            Un­der Law No. 3222 enacted in 1937, responsibility for ra­dio bro­ad­casts was transferred from the Turkish Wireless Inc. to the Post Office and thus the period of private company ma­na­ge­ment ca­me to an end and state radios were established. 

 

            The law relating to the organization and responsibilities of the Directorate General of the Press (Matbuat Umum Müdürlüğü) came into effect in 1934. This law gave the Directorate General of Press (Matbuat Umum Müdürlüğü), to be founded as affiliated to the Interior Ministry, the responsibility to regulate radio broadcasts.

 

            Long wave broadcasts had 120 kW transmitters and at the same time short wave broadcasts were initiated which were beamed to foreign countries on 22 July 1938. They used 20 kW transmitters. In order to produce programs "Ankara Radio" was established on 28 October 1938. In 1940 with the enact­ment of Law No. 3837, radio stations were brought under the control of the Di­rec­to­ra­te General of Press and Information. In 1940 radio was included within the purview of the Directorate General of the Press (Matbuat Umum Müdürlüğü), affiliated to the Prime Ministry under Law 3837. In 1943, the directorate was renamed the Directorate General of Press and Publications (Basın-Yayın Umum Müdürlüğü), and in 1949 it became the Directorate General of Press-Publications and Tourism (Basın-Yayın ve Turizm Genel Müdürlüğü).

 

            In 1949, the first medium-wave broadcasts were beamed from the İs­tan­bul-Ümraniye 150 kW transmitter. On 19 November 1949, a new 100 kW radio transmitter was put into operation in Ça­kır­lar for short-wave broadcasts to Ame­ri­ca, Western Europe and the Far East. The same year a short-wave 400 kW radio transmitter was put into service by the İz­mir municipality for broadcasts to İzmir. In 1953 it acquired a sta­te radio status. 

 

            Fol­lo­wing the 1961 Constitution a new and productive pe­ri­od for State radios began. Under the resolution adopted by the Co­un­cil of Ministers on 31 May 1961 seven provincial ra­dio sta­ti­ons were set up (Ankara, İstanbul, İzmir, Adana, Antalya, Ga­zi­an­tep and Kars). Erzurum Radio had already started ope­ra­ting in January 1961. 

 

            In 1963, the power of the Etimesgut transmitter which bro­ad­casts long-wave Ankara Radio programs was increased to 240 kW. 

 

            All radio stations were attached to the Tourism and In­for­ma­ti­on Mi­nistry in 1963.

 

 

Between 1963-1971

 

            With the adoption of the 1961 Constitution changes, re­ne­wal and developments were witnessed in Turkey in all fields. Radio and te­le­vi­si­on broadcasting, one of the most effective means of com­mu­ni­ca­ti­ons was assigned to the Turkish Radio and Te­le­vi­si­on Cor­po­ra­ti­on (TRT) according to the provision stipulated in Law No. 121 of the Constitution which stated: "The management of ra­dio sta­ti­ons and television net­works are regulated under the law as au­to­no­mo­us public corporate bodies". The Turkish Radio Television Law No. 359 was approved on December 24, 1963, and went into effect on May 1, 1964.

 

            On 1 January 1965, the first TRT programming period began, and all radio stations jointly broadcast news bulletins with An­ka­ra Radio at the same specified times. 

 

            In 1967, the 100 kW long-wave Erzurum Radio transmitter be­gan ope­ra­ting; in 1968 the 300 kW medium-wave Çukurova Radio, the 100 kW medium-wave İzmir Radio and the 2 kW Trabzon Ra­dio trans­mit­ters began broadcasting, while in 1969 the 300 kW me­di­um-wave Diyarbakır Radio was put into operation. 

 

            Me­anw­hi­le, the first television t­rans­missions in Turkey be­gan on 31 January 1968 which were transmitted from a studio in An­ka­ra. Television programs which were broadcast by means of a 5 kW transmitter in Dededoruk, Ankara were followed by trans­mis­si­ons from İzmir which began on 26 August 1968. In September 1970 programs began to be broadcast in İzmir. On 1 January 1970, İzmir radio began broadcasts on its se­cond station and on 30 December 1970, a 250 kW short-wave ra­dio trans­mit­ter began ope­ra­ting in Çakırlar, Ankara.

 

 

Between 1971 and 1982

 

            On 19 March 1971, television broadcasts began to be be­a­med from a transmitter in Eskişehir. On 30 August 1971, TRT Istanbul TV began broadcasting package Programs from the ITV Maçka Studio. The same year in Oc­to­ber, ra­dio-link systems between Ankara-İstanbul-İzmir were set up and two months later the  İstanbul and İzmir television networks jo­i­ned An­ka­ra's central broadcasts.

 

            The autonomous structure of the TRT stipulated in the 121st Ar­tic­le of the Constitution lasted only eight years. Article 121 was amended on 20 September 1971 and TRT was defined as an im­par­ti­al public corporate body. Following this amendment in the Cons­ti­tu­ti­on, the foundation charter of the TRT Law No. 359, was al­so amended with the Law No. 1568 and the organization of the institution was turned into an impartial public corporate body. 

 

            With the publication of the "Turkish Radio and Te­le­vi­si­on Cor­po­ra­ti­on Establishment and Duties Regulations" on 1 Sep­tem­ber 1972, a Program Planning Department was set up. Thus, plan­ning be­gan in radio and then in television broadcasts. 

 

            In 1971 the state Turkish Ratio and Television Corporation (TRT) and Istanbul Technical University signed a cooperation protocol, and TRT began TV broadcasts that August in Istanbul. Izmir followed that September, and broadcasts began in Eskişehir and Balıkesir in 1972.

 

            On 26 August 1972, a TV program connection was es­tab­lis­hed bet­we­en the TRT and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) via ra­di­o-­link systems. On 13 January 1973, the Turkey-Italy fo­ot­ball ga­me broadcast was relayed live on television via Eurovision. 

 

            An­tal­ya Radio, with a 600 kW medium-wave transmitter, and Hakkari ra­dio with a 1 kW short-wave transmitter started broadcasting in 1973. In 1974, auxiliary radio transmitters each of 100 kW po­wer be­gan operating in İzmir and in Erzurum. 

 

            Ra­dio-2 and Radio-3 broadcast began on 1 January 1975. Ra­dio-3 transferred its broadcast to FM channels on 14 Ap­ril 1978. The 300 kW medium-wave Trabzon radio trans­mit­ter sta­ti­on began broadcasts at this time, while the pro­vin­ci­al Trab­zon Radio continued its broadcasts regionally. 

 

            The 20th Eurovision Song Contest, which TRT first attended in 1975, was broadcast live from Stockholm.

 

            TRT realized its first color broadcast at the Summit Conference of the Islamic Countries in 1976.

 

            On 31 December 1981, TRT tested the first color TV trans­mis­si­on on New Year's Eve. It however officially star­ted color broadcasts on 15 March 1984. During the same month, TRT had an international link via Intelsat.

 

 

Between 1982 and 2000

 

            On December 1982, the first studio of “The Voice of Turkey Radio” was opened. In 1984, stereo broadcasts began in radios.

 

            An amendment regulating radio and television broadcasts in Tur­key was made in the Constitution and was adopted by a referendum on 6 No­vem­ber 1982. In line with Article 133 of the Constitution, ra­dio stations and television networks could only be es­tab­lis­hed by the state and their management would be as public corporate bo­di­es. Furthermore, the principle of impartiality would be pre­ser­ved in the ma­na­ge­ment and supervision of the institution, es­tab­lish­ment of the administrative bodies and in all radio and te­le­vi­si­on broadcasts.

 

            Pa­ral­lel to this constitutional amendment, the new Law No. 2954 (The Radio and Television Law) which was instrumental in the establishment of a new high le­vel board in the field of broadcasting, went into effect in 1983. The most important change brought about by the new law was the establishment of a "Supreme Board of Radio and Te­le­vi­si­on bro­ad­casts", which had authority over TRT. Official color broadcasts started in March 1984. TRT FM also started its radio broadcasts of Turkish music at that time.

 

            On 15 September 1986, TRT's second channel (TRT-2) based in İstanbul started its bro­ad­casts. Towards the end of the same year, TRT-1 and TRT-2 chan­nels began broadcasting via the Intelsat V F7, 66 degrees E. sa­tel­li­te. The monitoring station from the first satellite was set up for the Muş transmitter. As of this date, TRT te­le­vi­si­on bro­ad­casts have been transmitting via satellite links.

 

            In 1986, all Radio-3 broadcasts were in stereo.  On 1 February 1987, TRT was linked to EBU via satellite, and began to carry out exchange programs. On 2 July 1986, Ağrı long-wave, on 18 July 1986 De­niz­li me­di­um-wave, on 25 December 1986 Gaziantep medium-wave and on 22 Ap­ril 1987 Malatya medium-wave radio transmitters be­gan ope­ra­ting.

 

            The Radio-4 radio station began to broadcast on 18 Oc­to­ber 1987. Under Law No. 3517 passed on 12 January 1989, TRT trans­mit­ting stations were transferred to the PTT Di­rec­to­ra­te Ge­ne­ral and so were their personnel. The law was repealed by the Cons­ti­tu­ti­o­nal Court on 18 May 1990, however during the time that has elapsed the transmitters have not been returned to TRT.) 

 

            On 2 October 1989, TRT Channel-3 started its broadcasts. Re­ser­ve transmitters of the TRT-2 main transmitters, which we­re tur­ned over to Türk-Telekom, were then allocated to TRT-3. At the sa­me time, in a total of 22 provinces in East and So­ut­he­ast Ana­to­lia, GAP-TV began broadcasting from these transmitters and the re­lay stations of TRT-2 when they were not in use. The monopoly of the Turkish Radio and Te­le­vi­si­on Cor­po­ra­ti­on (TRT) on broadcasts stipulated in the Constitution was bro­ken after 1990 by many radio and television channels which started to broadcast illegally both at home and abroad. 

 

            Af­ter the chaos, which resulted, in radio and te­le­vi­si­on bro­ad­casts in 1990, legal regulations were sought and the amend­ment of Article 133 in the Constitution which called for an im­par­ti­al state broadcasting service was put on the agenda. With the enactment of Law No. 3913 on 8 July 1993, Article 133 in the Cons­ti­tu­ti­on was amended as follows: "Radio and te­le­vi­si­on channels may be freely established and managed within the sti­pu­la­ti­ons to be regulated by law. The independence and the impartiality of the only ra­dio and television institution established by the state as a pub­lic corporate body and news agencies aided as public cor­po­ra­te bo­di­es are essential." 

 

In line with the new Article 133, the monopoly of TRT on te­le­vi­si­on broadcasts as the sole television institution which be­gan operating in 1964 was broken. Thus, the violation of the Cons­ti­tu­ti­on by private radio stations and television networks from 1990 on­wards was considered invalid. 

 

            In 1994 saw the establishment of the Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTÜK), an autonomous, impartial public authority which regulates private radio and TV stations, and which TRT must obey in line with Law 3984 on the Establishment of Radio and Television Enterprises and their Broadcasts.

           

            With a November 1993 Cabinet decision, Turkey adopted the 1989 European Union Regulation on Cross-Border Broadcasting as Law 3915.

  

      THE TURKISH RADIO AND TELEVISION CORPORATION (TRT)

 

            TRT is a broadcasting institution with constitutional autonomy which provides a public service. After Law 3984 came into force, the work of TRT was harmonized in line with the needs of the competitive broadcasting atmosphere.

 

            TRT has seven TV stations: TRT-1, -2, -3, and -4, along with TRT-INT, TRT-TURK and TRT-GAP.

 

            TRT-1; This family channel which broadcasts to all viewers includes news, news programs, serials, music, entertainment, children and some sport programs.     

                                                                                                                                   

            TRT-2; The News-Information Channel consists of a variety of programs including extensive news bulletins, interviews and cultural programs in education and arts.

 

            TRT-3 (TRT-GAP and TBMM-TV); TRT-GAP TV broadcasts at certain hours and TGNA-TV broadcasts when the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) is in session. In addition to these broadcasts, there are many sports programs. 

 

            TRT-4; In addition to formal and mass educational programs, Channel 4 offers Turkish Folk and Classical Music.

 

            TRT-GAP; The TRT-GAP channel features music, education, culture, entertainment, sports programs and documentaries on a daily basis produced in accordance with the requests and needs of the people living in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia, which are aimed at increasing the economical and educational level in the area. These broadcasts are designed to meet the social, cultural and psychological needs of the people living in the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) region.                                                                                                                                    

 

            TRT-INT;  The TRT INT TV channel includes daily news broadcasts, serials, child, music and entertainment programs, cultural and educational programs, sports programs and documentaries produced in accordance with the requests and needs of the Turks living abroad, in order to maintain contact with  their home country and to help in solving problems.

 

            TRT-TÜRK; TRT-Türk includes daily news broadcasts, serials; child, music and entertainment programs; cultural and educational programs, sports programs and documentaries produced in with the aim of providing a cultural bridge of language and thought between Caucasia and the Central Asia Republics, so as to contribute to a multiple presentation of Turkey and these Republics.

 

            TRT is a member of both the ABU, EBU, Eurovision and Asia-vision. The contact numbers and addresses are as follows for International News and Sports exchange.

 

            TRT broadcasts can be listened to and watched all over Turkey. In addition, they reach Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the US and Canada.

 

TRT also has four national radio stations: Radio-1, Radio-2 (TRT-FM), Radio-3 and Radio-4. In addition, it has eight regional stereo radio stations – Trabzon Radio in the Black Sea region, Erzurum Radio in eastern Anatolia, GAP-Diyarbakır Radio in the southeastern Anatolian region, Çukurova Radio in Mersin, and Antalya Radio in the Mediterranean region – as well as and one local radio station, Hatay Provincial Radio (TRT Hatay FM).

 

            Radio-1; The aim of Radio-1 is to provide news and information; to respond to listeners' musical tastes; and to entertain and help develop, national cultural integration and education considering the widest listener range. The broadcasts which are transmitted in accordance with these aims consist of educational- cultural, drama, music and entertainment, news, commercials and sports programs. 

 

            Radio-2 The target of TRT-FM (Radio-2) is to help listeners further develop their musical taste and culture. This is achieved through broadcasts which consist of Turkish Folk Music, Turkish Classical Music and Pop Music. Broadcasts are live and 24 hours a day. There are news broadcasts presented once every hour in addition to short spoken passages which contribute to education and culture, brief statements and comments on current affairs and events, on-the-scene reporting, and interviews with guests and concerts. 

 

            Radio-3 The aim of Radio-3 which is a wide range music broadcasting station is to help listeners further develop musical tastes and culture as a result of its broadcasts which include Classical Music, Classic Jazz Programs, and Light and Pop Music. Radio-3 also includes news broadcasts not only in Turkish but also in English, French and German in order to serve the foreign community in Turkey. 

 

            Radio-4: The aim of radio is to have audiences appreciate Turkish Folk and Turkish Classical Music; to raise the level of musical tastes and culture; to maintain the interest of audiences; to introduce to the young generation different types of Turkish Music and present singers and musicians, composers, songwriters, arrangers and lyricists of Turkish folk and classical music. It also aims to reinforce the unity of language and culture by the presentation of Turkish Music, and to introduce the activities of musical institutions, organizations and groups. 

 

            In addition, Türkiye’nin Sesi (The Voice of Turkey) radio broadcasts on the short wave, Internet and satellite in 26 languages, including Turkish, all over the world. In regions with major tourist attractions, TRT also provides radio broadcasts for tourists in five languages.

 

            Besides its regular broadcasts, TRT also posts data, news etc. through teletext and Internet services for both the domestic and international market.

 

In June 1984, with the program “Kültürel Zenginliğimiz” (Our Cultural Richness) on Radio 1 and TRT-3, TRT began broadcasts in regional languages and dialects. These broadcasts include news summaries of important developments in Turkey and worldwide, local and international sports news, documentaries on traditions and customs, and magazine and music programs showcasing the country’s natural and historic richness.

 

In addition, TRT began pilot programs of numerical terrestrial broadcasts in such major cities as İstanbul, Ankara and İzmir. It initiated the programs in June 2004 after getting RTÜK permits for Ankara’s Dikmen TV (Çaldağı), broadcast at 1.5 KW on UHF channel 31. In February 2006 it started test broadcasts with two transmitters in the provinces of İstanbul, Ankara and İzmir. In light of their population density and socioeconomic situation, work is underway to expand the program to the provinces of Adana, Antalya, Bursa, Kocaeli, Gaziantep, Kayseri, Konya, Diyarbakır, Erzurum and Samsun.

 

TRT derives all its revenues from the mixed fund system, licenses, commercials and other public resources.

 

TRT is headquartered in Ankara and also provides service through its offices in İstanbul, Trabzon, Diyarbakır, Antalya, Çukurova, and Erzurum.

 

Its Active Line project began in August 2004 to provide timely answers to all fax and email queries and concerns from its audience.

 

PRIVATE RADIO AND TV STATIONS

 

            Private radio and televisions have started their broadcasts as of the year 1990. With the Constitutional amendment realized in 1993, public monopoly on radio and television broadcasts was abolished and private broadcasting was legalized.

 

             Currently, there are 252 televisions enterprises, including 23 national, 16 regional and 213 local channels; 1090 radio enterprises including 36 national, 102 regional and 952 local channels. In addition, 66 television channels are operating at the cable network at various cities. Also, 87 television enterprises and 48 radio enterprises were granted necessary license and broadcast permits. One of the enterprises is currently carrying out its activities as a satellite platform operator.  Moreover, broadcasts of private radio and channels are transmitted to Europe, Asia and United States of America through satellite and can be accessed by huge populations.

 

            In recent years Turkey has seen many stations specializing in one sort of programming – sports, news, documentaries, children’s shows, music videos, movies, etc.

 

            Private radio and TV stations make their money through commercial revenues.

             

RADIO AND TELEVISION SUPREME COUNCIL (RTÜK)

 

         RTÜK has been established as an autonomous and impartial public legal person for the regulation of radio and television broadcasting services under Article 5 of the Law No 3984 on the Establishment and Broadcasts of Radio and Televisions which entered into force on 20 April 1994. Radio and Television Supreme Council is composed of nine members who are elected by the Turkish Grand National Assembly. Main duties and powers can be listed as follows: granting licence to the radio and television enterprises, allocation of channel and frequency bands, issuing licenses for the construction and operation of telecommunication facilities and monitoring the compliance of radio and television broadcasts with regard to the national and international legislation, deciding on the relevant sanctions in cases of violation of the provisions of the Law, conducting or commissioning public opinion surveys in order to determine the reactions of the public,  representing the State at the  organizations that have legal personality under international law, and are concerned with radio and television broadcasts.

 

         Under the provisions of the Law No. 3984, private radio and televisions are required to make broadcasts which do not lead to discrimination, incite to hatred, respect to fundamental rights, human dignity and right of reply, sensitive on the programs which negatively influence the development of minors, respect to the values of the society and use proper Turkish in their programs.

 

         Several projects on the protection of the interests of the viewers particularly minors have been developed by RTÜK. One of them is the symbol system called “Smart Signs”, developed together with the specialized academicians and aiming to protect minors against the harmful content in broadcasts by informing the parents. This system has started to be implemented in 2006. Another project is the media literacy study carried out with the co-operation of Ministry of Education. Under this context, through the media literacy courses put into the curriculum of the primary schools, developing the skills of students on using of all means of media, analyzing messages delivered by media and developing their evaluation abilities are aimed. Media Literacy courses shall be instructed on a voluntary basis at all primary schools throughout Turkey starting from 2007-2008 education term.

 

         Another study, under the context of raising awareness in children, is the entering into force of the RTÜK Children’s Web Site (www.children.org.tr). In order to raise awareness in children against radio and television broadcasts and to educate children for being a critical, selective and questioner viewers, a web site only for children has been opened.

 

         One of the important activities put into practice by RTÜK is the self-regulatory mechanism under the title of “Representative of Viewers in Television Broadcasting”. This self-regulatory mechanism which is one of the main requirements of free broadcasting is a joint project of broadcasters and RTÜK. Broadcasters can independently control themselves without any external interference with its implementation.

 

            In order to fulfill its supervisory duty in a proper way, Record Archive and Analyze System Project (SKAAS) which shall provide monitoring, archiving and analyzing of radio and television broadcasts in digital environment has been started in 2006. The project which was launched with the Turkish Scientific Technical Research Institute (TÜBİTAK) is planned to be completed in September 2007.

 

            In 2006, two public opinion surveys on “Trends in Television Viewing” and “Viewing Habits of Primary School Children” were carried out by RTÜK.

 

         Several amendments have been made on the Law No 3984 which regulates the radio and television broadcasts within the framework of European Union (EU) reform studies since 2002. Amongst them the most important one is the amendment of sanction system applied to broadcasters which was done in 2002. In this context, program sanction are placed into the regulation instead of using suspension of broadcasts and current sanctions in the amended article are warning/excuse, suspension of program, fine and suspension of broadcasting licence permit temporarily.

 

            One of the other amendments is to give permission to public and private broadcasters for broadcasting in different languages and dialects other than Turkish used by Turkish citizens in their daily life.

 

            In this context, first broadcast in different languages and dialects has been started by public broadcaster TRT in June 2004. Local radio and television broadcasters have started their broadcast in those languages and dialects in March 2006.   

 

            RTÜK represents the State at the Council of Europe, European Union and several international fora. In this context, RTÜK making contributions in particular to the legal instruments prepared in the studies of the Council of Europe, has participated also in the studies of 8 chapters together with the Chapter entitled as “Information Society and Media” within the framework of  harmonisation of EU Acquis Communatire.          

 

            Terrestrial digital television broadcast tests have been launched in 2006 at first three biggest provinces of country respectively İstanbul, Ankara and İzmir for catching up with the developing new technologies in the world and overcoming the issue of limited frequency capacity of analogue broadband and providing more quality broadcasting services. In addition to the provinces mentioned above, studies are currently being carried out for the start of DTV tests in Adana, Bursa, Kocaeli, Gaziantep, Kayseri, Konya, Diyarbakır, Erzurum and Samsun by taking into consideration their population and socio-economic situation in 2007.  

 

 

 

TV AND RADIO BROADCASTS THROUGH TÜRKSAT SATELLITES

 

            The first important step in satellite communication in Turkey was taken in 1994 with the establishment of two satellite ground control stations near Ankara and when the Türksat 1B Communication Satellite, made by French firm Aerospatiale, was put into orbit on behalf of Türk Telekom. Türksat 1B, the country's first satellite, was followed by Türksat 1C, which was put into orbit in 1996, and then Türksat 2A, the third satellite of the country, which was put into orbit and thus made Turkey one of the leading countries in the world in terms of satellite communication. In line with the strategic importance of national and international satellite service in terms of national security and the country’s defense, TÜRKSAT Satellite Communications and Operation Inc., or TÜRKSAT A.Ş., was established with Law No. 5189 dated June 16, 2004 in order to provide this service, and the satellite services were separated from Türk Telekom. Türk Telekom’s cable TV service was turned over to Türksat A.Ş. with Law No. 5335, and the company’s name was changed to Türksat Satellite Communications Cable TV and Operations Inc., which continues its activities as a publicly owned company.

 

            TürksatKablo, which works under Türksat A.Ş., is responsible for operating and conducting the cable network on behalf of the public in Turkey through the Partnership of Income Distribution or subcontractor firms, as required by Law No. 5335 and agreements signed in 1997-98.

 

Long-term broadcasts

 

            Most of Turkey's national channels broadcast through Türksat satellites. Long-term contracts were made in order to provide these broadcasts. TV and radio broadcasts are made through the transponders of Türksat satellites with a bandwidth of 36, 54 and 72 megahertz (MHz).

 

Digital TV broadcasts

 

            Long-term digital TV broadcasts can be made through Türksat satellites. The digital TV broadcasts can be in the form of a single channel or package broadcasts consisting of more than one channel. Radio broadcasts can be made through the subcarriers of the digital TV or package broadcasts.

 

Digital radio broadcasts

 

            Digital radio signals can go up the satellite as a single carrier, and these broadcasts can be made through Türksat. In addition, they can be broadcast from Türksat satellites as the subcarriers of the digital TV or package broadcasts.

 

Analog TV broadcasts

 

            This technique has been used since the day when TV broadcasts first began. Various standards have been developed and used all over the world. These standards vary, depending on the lines forming the PAL, SECAM and NTSC picture and the number of images broadcast per second. As the analog signal carriers make it possible to carry out analog radio broadcasts through subcarriers, many national and regional radio broadcasts can be made through the satellite as part of these services.

Data transmission

 

            Data transmission and the speed of this transmission are growing more and more important. Such data transmission as the Internet, VSAT, GSM, IBS, IDR, TES and SCPC can be made rapidly and securely through Türksat satellites.

 

Temporary broadcasts

 

            Besides long-term usage, there are certain applications which make it possible to use the satellites for a short period of time through mobile ground stations in order to transmit the images of TV activities and communicate them to large masses.

 

            Requests are taken depending on whether the place where the broadcast will be made is inside or outside the country, and then the capacity is allocated.

 

            In addition, by using the capacity of Türksat 1B, Türksat 1C and Türksat 2A, which are reserved for short-term broadcasts, broadcast transmissions from Turkey to Europe and Central Asia or from these regions to our country are possible.

 

Cable TV series

 

            The first cable TV service started in Turkey in 1988. The number of television broadcasts from cable TV networks varies by province. An average of about 50 domestic and foreign TV channels are taken from the satellites through parabolic antennas and carried to cable TV subscribers.

 

            Cable TV aims to display broadcasts without degradation of the image quality of channels and by maintaining their studio quality as economically as possible.

In addition, broadband Internet service is provided with such speed choices as 128/32, 256/64, 512/128, 1024/256 and 2048/512 from the cable TV network.

 

            Cable TV service is currently provided to 1.2 million subscribers in 21 provinces. These provinces are Adana, Ankara, Antalya, Balıkesir, Bursa, Denizli, Edirne, Erzurum, Eskişehir, Gaziantep, İstanbul, İzmir, Kayseri, Kocaeli, Konya, Manisa, Mersin, Samsun, Tekirdağ, Yalova, and Zonguldak.

 

            KabloInternet service is still provided to 12 provinces: Adana, Ankara, Antalya, Bursa, Eskişehir, Gaziantep, İstanbul, İzmir, Kayseri, Kocaeli, Konya, and Tekirdağ.

   

 

TELEVISION CHANNELS

 

 

THE TURKISH RADIO AND TELEVISION CORPORATION (TRT)

 

 

Address:          TRT Sitesi Oran Yolu Üzeri

                        Çankaya/ANKARA

Tel:                  (0312) 4904300 (100 Lines)

Fax:                 (0312) 4901109 (General Secretariat)

                        (0312) 4904494 (Clerical Office)

                        (0312) 4900155 (News Department)

Website:          http://www.trt.net.tr/

 

 

İstanbul Office

 

Address:          TRT İstanbul Regional Office

                        Harbiye/İSTANBUL

Tel:                  (0212) 2321200

Fax:                 (0212) 2258530

 

ATV  (National-Cable-Satellite)

 

Address:          Gayrettepe Mah. Barbaros Bul. No: 125

                        80700 Balmumcu-Beşiktaş -İstanbul

Tel:                  (0212) 354 30 00

Fax:                 (0212) 354 40 64

Website:          http://www.atv.com.tr/

 

Ankara Office

 

Address:          Söğütözü Cad. Söğütözü İş Merkezi

                        No: 14/C Beştepe/ANKARA

Tel:                  (0312) 292 50 50

Fax:                 (0312) 292 50 73

 

 

Cine 5  (National-Cable-Satellite)

 

Address:          Büyükdere Cad. No: 163

                        80504 Esentepe-İstanbul

Tel:                  (0212) 336 15 15

Fax:                 (0212) 217 30 52

Website:          http://www.cine5.com.tr/

   

 

CNN Türk (National-Cable-Satellite)

 

 Address:         Doğan Medya Center

                        34204 Bağcılar/İSTANBUL

Tel:                  (0212) 413 56 00 • Fax: (0212) 413 58 50

Website:          http://www.cnn.com.tr/

 

Ankara Office

 

 Address:         Atatürk Bul. No: 125 Kat: 5-6

                        Bakanlıklar-Ankara

Tel:                  (0312) 417 41 17

Fax:                 (0312) 417 63 04

 

CNBC-e  (National-Cable-Satellite)

 

 Address:         Eskibüyükdere Cad. Uso Center No: 61

                        80660 Maslak-İstanbul

Tel:                  (0212) 335 00 00

Fax:                 (0212) 335 00 87

Website:          http://www.cnbce.com/

 

Ankara Office

 

Address:          Atatürk Bulvarı No: 211/A

                        Kavaklıdere-Ankara

Tel:                  (0312)468 53 53

Fax:                 (0312) 467 29 74; 467 69 73

 

Flash TV  (National-Cable-Satellite)

 

 Address:         Altıparmak Mah. Stadyum Cad. No: 16 Kat: 17

                        Tower Plaza -Bursa

Tel:                  (0224) 273 37 00 (20 lines)

Fax:                 (0224) 273 37 22

E-mail:             bursa@flashtv.com.tr 

   

Ankara Office

 

Address:          Karyağdı Sok. No:18

                        A. Ayrancı-Ankara

Tel:                  (0312) 439 82 70

Fax:                 (0312) 439 82 45

    

İstanbul Office

 

 Address:         Çatma Mescit Mah. Tepebaşı Cad. Elektrik Sok. No: 11

                        Tepebaşı-İstanbul

Tel:                  (0212) 256 81 01 ; 256 82 82 (10 lines)

Fax:                 (0212) 256 81 11

 

Kanal D (National-Cable-Satellite)

 

Address:          Kanal D TV Center Bağcılar

                        34204 İSTANBUL

Tel:                  (0212) 413 51 11

Fax:                 (0212) 413 54 00

Website:          http://www.kanald.com.tr

 

Ankara Office

 

Address:          Ballı Sok. No: 8/ 4

                        Aşağı Ayrancı-Ankara

Tel:                  (0312) 419 26 67 (6 lines)

Fax:                 (0312) 419 26 72

 

FOX TV (National-Satellite-Cable)

 

Address:          29 Ekim Cad. No: 23

                        Yenibosna-İstanbul

Tel:                  (0212) 454 56 00

Fax:                 (0212) 454 56 66

Website:          http://www.fox.com.tr

 

 

Ankara Office

 

 Address:         Meşrutiyet Cad. Hatay Sok.

                        No:27 Kızılay/ANKARA         

Tel:                  (0312) 419 26 01 (6 lines)

 Fax:                (0312) 419 26 20

 

 

Haber Türk (Cable-Satellite)

 

 Address:         Tevfik bey mah. 29 Temmuz Cad.

                        No: 24    Sefaköy/İSTANBUL

Tel:                  (212) 599 82 86

Fax:                 (212) 426 42 41

 

 Ankara Office

 

Address:          Hoşdere Cad. Özvatan Sok. No:34/1

                        Y. Ayrancı/Ankara

Tel:                  (0312) 442 89 89-90

                        (0312) 440 78 44

 

Kanal 1 (National-Satellite-Cable)

 

Address:          Tevfik Bey Mah. 20 Temmuz Cad. No:24

                        34295  Sefaköy/İSTANBUL

                        (0212) 411 20 00

                        (0212) 411 24 88

 

Website:          www.kanal1.com.tr

 

Ankara Office

 

 Address:         Söğütözü Cad. Söğütözü İş Merkezi

                        No:14/C Beştepe/ANKARA

Tel:                  (0312) 292 53 03

Fax:                 (0312) 292 52 52

E-mail:             tagaoglu@kanal1.com.tr

                        ogoccr@atv.com.tr

  

 Kanal 7 (National-Cable-Satellite)

 

Address:          Otakçılar Cad.No:60

                        34030  Eyüp/İSTANBUL

Tel:                  (0212) 6129090

Fax:                 (0212) 6122776-5677007 (Public Relations)

E-mail:             kanal7@kanal7.com

Website:          http://www.kanal7.com

 

 

Ankara Office

 

Address:          Oğuzlar Mah. 2.Cad. 32. Sok. No: 42

                        Balgat-Ankara

Tel:                  (0312) 284 04 00 (10 lines)

Fax:                 (0312) 285 85 34

 

 Kanaltürk (Regional-Cable-Satellite)

 

Address:          Meliha Avni Sözen Cad. No:17

                        Mecidiyeköy/İSTANBUL

Tel:                  (212) 3558500

Fax:                 (212) 2730671

Website:          http://www.kanalturk.com.tr

 

Ankara Office

 

Address:          Cinnah Cad. No: 75

                        Çankaya/ANKARA

Tel:                  (0312) 4394060

Fax:                 (0312) 4394303

E-mail:             anahaber@kanalturk.com.tr

 

NTV (National-Cable-Satellite)

 

Address:          Eskibüyükdere Cad. Uso Center No:61

                        34398 Maslak/İSTANBUL

Tel:                  (0212) 3350000

Fax:                 (0212) 3300050

Website:          http://www.ntvmsnbc.com

 

Ankara Office

 

Address:          Atatürk Bulvarı No:211/A

                        Kavaklıdere/ANKARA

Tel:                  (0312) 4685353 (24 lines)

Fax:                 (0312) 4672974-4676973

E-mail:             yasemin.bektas@ntv.com.tr

 

Olay TV (Local-Cable-Satellite)

 

Address:          Ankara Yolu Gürsu Kavşağı 11.km

                        Olay Medya/BURSA

Tel:                  (0224) 3317000

Fax:                 (0224) 3317065

 

 

Samanyolu TV (National-Cable-Satellite)

 

Address:          Kısıklı Mah. Ferah Cad.

                        Reşatbey Sokak  No:12

                       Çamlıca/İSTANBUL

Tel:                  (0216) 3448560 (18 lines) 3448570

                        (0216) 3297669 (News Center)

Fax:                 (0216) 3448568-3297124 (Economy)-3443803

Website:          http://www.stv.com.tr

 

Ankara Office

 

Address:          Kubilay Sok. No:15

                        Tandoğan/ANKARA

Tel:                  (0312) 2300900

Fax:                 (0312) 2312530

 

 

Samanyolu Haber TV (Satellite)

 

Address:          Ferah Mah. Reşatbey Sok.  No:12

                        34692 Büyükçamlıca/İSTANBUL

Tel:                  (0216) 3448575/1236

                        (0216) 4436284 (Information)

Fax:                 (0216) 3448568

Website:          http://www.stv.com.tr

E-mail:             ademirer@samanyoluhaber.tv

                        haber@samanyolu.tv

 

 

Ses TV (Local-Satellite-Cable)

 

Address:          Macun Mah. 1. Cad. C Blok  No:2/7

                        Yenimahalle/ANKARA

Tel:                  (0312) 5913300

Fax:                 (0312) 3875103

Website:          http://www.sestv.com.tr

 

 

Show TV (National-Cable-Satellite)

 

Address:          Yapı Kredi Plaza E Blok

                        1.Levent/İSTANBUL

Tel:                  (0212) 3550101                 

Fax:                 (0212) 2792575(News Center) 2801191

Website:          http://www.showtvnet.com.tr