TV watchdog fines live streaming of Gezi protests for ‘harming development of children, youth’

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet

The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) has fined a number of channels for 'harming the physical, moral and mental development of children and young people.' DAILY NEWS photo / Selahattin SÖNMEZ

The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) has fined a number of channels, including Halk TV, for "harming the physical, moral and mental development of children and young people" by broadcasting coverage of the Gezi Park protests.

Ulusal TV, Cem TV and EM TV were also among the fined networks.

Halk TV, in particular, has gained unexpected popularity over its 24-hour live streaming of events around Istanbul, at a time when many mainstream media outlets gave little coverage to the ongoing protests.

The channel had been previously warned by RTÜK about a video clip the regulator deemed to be humiliating to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Although it does not have an organic link with the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), the station is known to have been financially supported by the CHP during the leadership of Deniz Baykal.

After being elected the new leader in May 2010, current CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu reportedly cut financial support to the channel, which is known for its antigovernment broadcasts.