TGRT

TGRT, an initialism derived from Türkiye Gazete Radyo Televizyon, was a Turkish free-to-air television channel associated with İhlas Holding. It began broadcasting on April 22, 1993, during the formative period of private television in Turkey. The channel was among the country’s early privately operated broadcasters and became the principal television brand in İhlas Holding’s media portfolio, alongside related radio and television services. The original TGRT service operated as a broad general-interest channel rather than as a narrowly specialized network. Its programming identity was connected to the wider İhlas media group and included television content aimed at a national Turkish audience. The TGRT name was also used across an expanding family of related services, including TGRT FM, TGRT EU, TGRT Haber and TGRT Belgesel. These services addressed different audience segments, such as radio listeners, Turkish viewers living in Europe, news audiences and documentary viewers. A decisive change occurred in 2006, when News Corporation agreed to acquire the broadcasting rights and terrestrial frequencies associated with TGRT. İhlas Holding reported the transaction in November 2006, and the transaction became notable as the first sale of a Turkish television channel to foreign capital. The deal covered the broadcasting operation, rights and frequencies, but did not transfer the TGRT brand as a whole or the broader TGRT-branded businesses retained by İhlas Holding. TGRT Haber, TGRT FM and other related services therefore remained connected to the İhlas media group. The original TGRT channel ceased operating under that name in February 2007. News Corporation used the acquired broadcasting assets to launch FOX in Turkey. The transition made TGRT an important example of the restructuring and internationalization of Turkey’s commercial television sector in the 2000s. It also created a distinction between the former national television channel and the continuing TGRT corporate and channel family. Although the original flagship television service disappeared, the TGRT name continued to be used by İhlas-linked media outlets, including TGRT Haber, TGRT EU, TGRT Belgesel and TGRT FM. TGRT EU had been launched in December 2004 to serve Turkish audiences in Europe. Its schedule was organized around European time zones and it remained associated with the TGRT family even after the sale of the original channel’s broadcasting assets. TGRT Belgesel began broadcasting in April 2010 as a documentary service covering subjects such as nature, animals, history and biographies. TGRT FM, founded in 1993, developed into a nationally distributed Turkish radio station with music, news, cultural, religious and discussion programming. These continuing services preserved the TGRT identity after the closure of the original television channel, but they should not be confused with the defunct national TGRT television service.

TGRT was created as part of İhlas Holding’s expansion into Turkish broadcasting. The name is an abbreviation of Türkiye Gazete Radyo Televizyon, linking television to the group’s newspaper and radio activities. The channel started broadcasting on April 22, 1993, when private television was becoming an increasingly important part of Turkey’s media system. As a free-to-air national service, TGRT operated as a general-interest channel and helped establish İhlas Holding as a significant private media participant. The TGRT identity later developed beyond the original television network. TGRT FM was established on October 4, 1993, by Enver Ören and became a nationally distributed radio service. Its output combined music with news, religious programming, cultural discussions, radio drama and other spoken-word formats. TGRT EU was launched on December 17, 2004, for Turkish viewers in Europe, with scheduling adapted to European audiences. The group also operated TGRT Haber, a news-oriented service, and later introduced TGRT Belgesel as a documentary channel. The most important corporate event in TGRT’s history was the sale of the original channel’s broadcasting assets. In 2006, News Corporation agreed to acquire the broadcasting rights and terrestrial frequencies connected with TGRT. İhlas Holding reported that 56.5 percent of the relevant company was transferred in November 2006, after which News Corporation reached arrangements with the remaining shareholders. The transaction was widely characterized as the first sale of a Turkish television channel to foreign capital. It transferred the operating rights and frequencies, but not the complete TGRT brand portfolio. TGRT Haber, TGRT FM and other services remained outside the transaction and continued under İhlas-related ownership. The original TGRT channel stopped broadcasting in February 2007. News Corporation replaced it with FOX in Turkey, ending TGRT’s run as a national general-interest television channel. The change illustrated how Turkish broadcasting assets were becoming objects of international media investment, while also showing that a channel’s brand, corporate identity and spectrum assets could be separated in a transaction. The TGRT name continued through related services. TGRT EU remained aimed at Turks living in Europe and later resumed use of the TGRT identity after changes involving the FOX Türk service. TGRT Belgesel began broadcasting on April 22, 2010, with documentary programming on nature, animals, history and notable lives. TGRT FM continued as a national radio brand with terrestrial distribution at numerous points in Turkey, satellite access in Europe and internet listening availability. In this later phase, TGRT was best understood not as one active national television channel, but as a continuing media brand family associated with İhlas Holding. The original television service is defunct, while several related TGRT-branded outlets have continued independently or under related corporate structures.

• 2010

  TGRT Belgesel begins broadcasting

  [1]TGRTen.wikipedia.org

  The documentary channel joins the continuing TGRT-branded media portfolio.

• 2007

  Original TGRT channel closes

  [1]TGRTen.wikipedia.org

  The original TGRT service ends in February and is replaced by FOX in Turkey.

• 2006

  Broadcasting assets are sold to News Corporation

  [1]TGRTen.wikipedia.org

  News Corporation acquires TGRT’s broadcasting rights and terrestrial frequencies in a transaction reported by İhlas Holding.

• 2004

  TGRT EU launches

  [1]TGRTen.wikipedia.org

  A TGRT television service for Turkish audiences in Europe begins broadcasting on December 17.

• 1993

  TGRT launches in Turkey

  [1]TGRTen.wikipedia.org

  İhlas Holding launches TGRT as a privately operated free-to-air television channel on April 22.

• 1993

  TGRT FM is founded

  [1]TGRTen.wikipedia.org

  TGRT FM is established on October 4 and becomes part of the broader TGRT broadcasting family.

A broad Turkish private-broadcasting brand associated with İhlas Holding, combining national television, news, radio, documentary and diaspora-oriented services.

• Free-to-air television channel · 1993

  TGRT

  The original TGRT service was a national Turkish free-to-air television channel launched by İhlas Holding in 1993. It operated as a general-interest broadcaster during the expansion of private television in Turkey. Its broadcasting rights and terrestrial frequencies were sold to News Corporation in 2006, and the channel ceased operating under the TGRT name in February 2007 when the assets were used to establish FOX in Turkey.

• Diaspora television channel · 2004

  TGRT EU

  TGRT EU was introduced in December 2004 for Turkish audiences living in Europe. Its schedule was organized around European viewing times and it remained associated with the TGRT family after the sale of the original national channel’s broadcasting assets. The service has carried Turkish television content and programming intended for viewers in European markets.

• News television channel

  TGRT Haber

  TGRT Haber is the news-oriented television service associated with the İhlas media group. It was not included in the sale of the original TGRT broadcasting rights to News Corporation and therefore represents one of the continuing branches of the TGRT brand family rather than a successor owned by FOX.

• Documentary television channel · 2010

  TGRT Belgesel

  TGRT Belgesel is a documentary channel established by TGRT Digital TV Services, an İhlas Holding affiliate. It began broadcasting in 2010 and has featured documentaries concerning nature, animals, history and the lives of notable people.

• Radio station · 1993

  TGRT FM

  TGRT FM is a Turkish radio station founded in 1993. Its programming has included music, news, religious content, cultural conversations, radio drama and other spoken-word formats. The station developed a broad terrestrial network and has also been available through satellite and internet distribution.

• 2006

  Sale of TGRT broadcasting assets to News CorporationM&A

  Background

  İhlas Holding agreed to transfer the broadcasting rights and terrestrial frequencies associated with the original TGRT television channel as Turkey’s private television market attracted international media investment.

  Action taken

  News Corporation acquired the relevant broadcasting operation, initially taking a 56.5 percent stake in the associated company and later reaching an agreement with the remaining shareholders.

  Aftermath

  The original TGRT channel ended in February 2007 and its assets were used for FOX’s Turkish launch. The TGRT brand and several related services remained with İhlas-linked companies.

  Source

• 2010

  TGRT Belgesel begins broadcasting[1]TGRTen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  TGRT Belgesel launched as a documentary channel within the İhlas-linked TGRT media family, covering nature, wildlife, history and biographies.

• 2007

  TGRT is replaced by FOX in Turkey[1]TGRTen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The original TGRT television service ended in February 2007 after the transfer of its broadcasting assets. News Corporation subsequently used the service and frequencies for FOX’s Turkish operation.

• 2006

  News Corporation acquires TGRT broadcasting rights and frequencies[1]TGRTen.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Other

  News Corporation purchased the broadcasting rights and terrestrial frequencies associated with TGRT in a transaction reported by İhlas Holding. The deal did not include the TGRT brand in its entirety or several related İhlas-owned services.

1. 1TGRTen.wikipedia.org