BRT 1

BRT 1 (Bayrak Radyo Televizyon 1) is a Turkish-language television channel based in Northern Cyprus and the flagship television service of the Bayrak Radyo Televizyon (BRT) corporation. The BRT corporation operates two television channels and five radio stations, and BRT 1 functions as its main generalist channel. It is regarded by the authorities of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as a national public-service broadcaster, although it has no legal standing under international law and the government of the Republic of Cyprus has described it as a 'pirate' television station. The channel traces its origins to Radio Bayrak, a radio station created in December 1963 by Turkish Cypriot employees who had been dismissed from the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation amid intercommunal violence. Following the 1974 Turkish military intervention and the establishment of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Radio Bayrak was elevated to the status of a national radio station under the newly formed Bayrak Radyo Televizyon (BRT) corporation. Television broadcasting followed: after initial tests, BRT 1 began regular transmissions on 19 July 1976 from a studio equipped with material brought from Diyarbakır, Turkey. Its broadcasts were in black and white until 1 July 1979. BRT 1 broadcasts 24 hours a day, with regular programming running from 7 a.m. to midnight. The broadcast day opens with the national anthem of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, İstiklâl Marşı, which is also the anthem of Turkey. Its schedule is generalist and includes morning magazine Güne Günaydın, music programmes such as Müzik-Siz Cafe and KKTC Top 10, news bulletins (Haberler), series, sports coverage and cultural programmes. Although the channel broadcasts primarily in Turkish, it airs a daily English-language news bulletin at 5:30 p.m. A companion service, BRT International, simulcasts most of BRT 1's programming and distributes it by satellite to Turkish Cypriot audiences in the Middle East and Europe. As part of the BRT corporation, BRT 1 is a state-owned broadcaster of Northern Cyprus. It is transmitted terrestrially across the northern part of the island and by satellite for the Turkish Cypriot diaspora. Its status remains contested internationally because of the unrecognised status of the entity it serves, but it is a central media institution within Northern Cyprus.

The origins of BRT 1 lie in the communal conflict that divided Cyprus in the 1960s. In December 1963, a few weeks after violent intercommunal clashes between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, Turkish Cypriot employees of the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation were dismissed. They responded by organising themselves and creating Radio Bayrak, a pirate radio station whose purpose was to inform the Turkish-speaking population of the island. The Turkish military intervention in 1974, which occupied the northern part of the island, led to the creation of a self-declared independent 'state', the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Although not recognised by the international community (with the exception of Turkey), it organised itself with the support of the Turkish army and government. That same year, Radio Bayrak was made a 'national' radio station placed under the aegis of a radio-television company, Bayrak Radyo Televizyon (BRT). Television came later. It was not until 1976 that the first tests of Northern Cyprus television began. On 19 July of that year, BRT's first regular broadcasts officially started, from a studio fitted out with equipment originating from Diyarbakır, in Turkey. The broadcasts were in black and white until 1 July 1979. Over time, BRT 1 became the flagship generalist channel of the BRT corporation, which operates two television channels and five radio stations. A spin-off service, BRT International, took most of BRT 1's programming and simulcast it, distributing it by satellite to the Middle East and Europe for Turkish Cypriots in the diaspora. The channel established a 24-hour broadcast schedule, with regular programming from 7 a.m. to midnight, opening each day with the national anthem İstiklâl Marşı. Its programming mix includes the morning show Güne Günaydın, music programmes Müzik-Siz Cafe and KKTC Top 10, news bulletins (Haberler), series, sports and cultural programmes, and a daily English-language news bulletin at 5:30 p.m. Because it serves the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, BRT 1 has no legal existence under international law; the government of the Republic of Cyprus has considered it a 'pirate' television station, while the authorities of Northern Cyprus treat it as a national broadcaster akin to a public-service channel. It is transmitted on the terrestrial network of the northern part of the island and by satellite for the diaspora.

• 1979

  On 1 July, broadcasts transition from black and white.

• 1976

  First television tests of Northern Cyprus begin.

• 1976

  On 19 July, BRT's first regular television broadcasts officially start from a studio equipped with material from Diyarbakır, Turkey.

• 1974

  Radio Bayrak made a 'national' radio station under the newly formed Bayrak Radyo Televizyon (BRT) corporation.

• 1963

  Radio Bayrak created in December by dismissed Turkish Cypriot employees of the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation.

State-owned generalist public-service television channel of Northern Cyprus, broadcasting in Turkish with a daily English news bulletin.

• BRT 1

  Flagship generalist television channel broadcasting 24 hours a day in Turkish.

• BRT International

  Satellite simulcast service distributing most BRT 1 programming to the Middle East and Europe.

• Güne Günaydın

  Morning programme featuring columns, news and practical information.

• Müzik-Siz Cafe

  Music programme.

• KKTC Top 10

  Music programme.

• Haberler

  News bulletins.

1. 1BRT 1 — Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2BRT 1 — Wikipédia (français)fr.wikipedia.org
3. 3BRT 1 official websitebrtk.net