The television industry in Turkey encompasses high-tech program production, transmission, and coverage. The Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) is Turkey's largest and most powerful national television network. As of 2022, there are 498 television channels in Turkey, ranking the country fourth in Europe in terms of total channel count. Turkey is the world's fastest-growing television series exporter and has overtaken both Mexico and Brazil to become the world's second-highest exporter of television dramas, behind only the United States. Turkish television drama has seen massive growth since the early 2000s. While the country has begun transitioning to digital terrestrial television networks, analog broadcasting historically remained widespread.
History
Early years and monopoly Television in Turkey was introduced in 1952 with the launch of ITU TV. The first experimental closed-circuit television broadcasts were prepared between June and July 1966. Turkey's first national television channel, TRT 1, began broadcasting in 1968. By 1972, TRT transmitted its service exclusively to Ankara four nights a week; however, viewers in border regions were frequently enticed by television channels broadcasting from neighboring countries. Sophisticated antennas targeting functional signals from Bulgaria were widely installed in Istanbul prior to the official launch of TRT's local service in the city. Color television was introduced on 31 December 1980 and became the industry standard on 1 July 1984. During this transition period in 1983, the Turkish government rejected a commercial proposal from Polly Peck to assemble color television sets within the country. A second TRT channel, initially based out of Istanbul, followed in 1986. Leveraging rapid technological advancements and the global rise of satellite tech, TRT expanded its state monopoly by launching a third channel in 1989, a fourth channel dedicated to educational programming in 1990, and an international channel for the Turkish diaspora that same year.
Development of private television In the mid-1980s, public discussions emerged regarding the creation of private television stations to end the state monopoly. Turkey's first private television channel, Star 1, was established on 3 August 1989 by Magic Box Incorporated, a company registered in Germany. Prior to the wave of liberalization in the 1990s, broadcasting remained entirely under state control. The subsequent emergence of commercial television stations initially occurred without legal regulation; these new channels lacked formal operating licenses due to TRT's ongoing de facto monopoly. When Star 1 first aired, it utilized the physical studios and facilities of the German channel Sat.1 to deliver five hours of daily programming. This milestone triggered the launch of numerous other private channels, including Teleon, Show TV, HBB, Kanal 6, Cine 5, TGRT, Kanal D, ATV, and STV. To resolve the regulatory vacuum in the private sector, new legislation was enacted on 20 April 1994, officially terminating TRT's legal monopoly. The contemporary Turkish television market is dominated by a handful of major networks, led by Kanal D, ATV, and Show TV, which command market shares of 14%, 10%, and 9.6%, respectively. The two most common reception platforms are terrestrial and satellite. By the end of 2009, nearly 50% of households utilized satellite networks, with approximately 15% of those subscribers opting for premium pay services. Three providers primary dominate this multi-channel market: the satellite platforms Digiturk and D-Smart, and the cable infrastructure provider Türksat.
Digital terrestrial television Initial plans for Turkey's digital terrestrial television (DTT) infrastructure were drawn up on 28 August 1998 at Bilkent University. Subsequently, an Ankara Dikmen 1.5 kW DVB-T transmitter commenced test broadcasts on 1 December 2003. Turkey began structural digital transmissions in February 2006. The Turkish government originally intended to manage a gradual analog switch-off, targeting a final completion date of March 2015. While the broadcasting regulator awarded an operating license to a private firm in 2013, the tender was cancelled in 2014 after the Constitutional Court (AYM) upheld a legal complaint against the administrative process. Although subsequent licensing frameworks have been proposed, Turkey lacked a functional, nationwide DTT network for several years. Following the construction of modern digital broadcast infrastructure at Çamlıca Tower and the Çanakkale TV Tower, digital test broadcasts officially commenced in 2020. Long-term state plans outline the development of up to 40 additional transmitters across the country. By late 2024, the full commercial implementation of digital terrestrial television in Turkey remained delayed due to postponed spectrum auctions. However, trial DVB-T2 multiplex transmissions were expanded at Çamlıca Tower. As of 2026, operational DVB-T2 test broadcasts have actively expanded into the Adana, İzmir, and İstanbul metropolitan areas. Despite these rollouts, DTT transmissions occupy a complex legal space; because formal DVB-T2 frequency bands have not been completely allocated by regulators, channels are broadcasting on legacy analog frequencies, creating ongoing regulatory conflicts.
List of channels
Government channels (TRT - Turkish Radio and Television Corporation)
Government channels (Independent)
Private national channels
Most viewed channels The most viewed television channels for 2024 are:
See also Radio in Turkey Turkish television drama
References
External links
Turkish TV Market Information
