The online broadcasting licences cost $988.03 for radio and $9880.33 for television.
Turkey’s media and telecom regulator Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK) has given three international broadcasters 72 hours to obtain broadcast licenses or have their content blocked in Turkey.
The three outlets were the France-based outlet Euronews, the US broadcaster Voice of America, and German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle.
Ilhan Tasci, a member of RTUK’s board, said in a tweet: “A decision was taken with a majority of votes that 72 hours be granted to the websites of amerikaninsesi.com, dw.com/tr, and tr.euronews.com to get licenses.”
Ilhan Tasci, who announced the decision, condemned the move on Twitter, calling it a further assault on media freedom in Turkey.
The decision is based on a regulation that went into effect in August 2019. At that time, several media freedom advocates raised concerns about possible censorship because the regulation granted RTUK the authority to control all online content.
Also, with the regulation, RTUK has been authorized to request broadcast licenses from media service providers in order for their radio, TV broadcasting and on-demand audiovisual media services to continue their online presence.
The committee to protect journalists has condemned the decision and urged Turkish authorities to allow all news outlets to work freely without subjecting them to regulations, harassment or censorship.
