Several private broadcasters in Türkiye began airing content in Kurdish on March 2006, marking a new chapter in minority-language media. The three outlets involved are Gun TV and Soz TV, both based in Diyarbakir, and Medya FM, a radio station in Sanliurfa.
Soz TV became the first private television channel to carry a Kurdish-language program, a show focused on customs and traditional culture. Gun TV followed with its own cultural program running 45 minutes in the evening. Medya FM aired Kurdish-language news and a music segment.
Under existing regulations, radio stations may broadcast in local dialects up to five hours per week, with a daily cap of one hour. Television channels are permitted up to four hours per week, limited to 45 minutes per day. All such programming must be accompanied by Turkish subtitles or an immediate Turkish-language retransmission.
State broadcaster TRT had previously pioneered non-Turkish dialect programming, and the three private outlets followed by seeking and receiving approval from the Turkish Higher Board of Radio and Television (RTUK). Officials noted that all broadcasts must respect constitutional principles, national security, and the integrity of the state.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in March 2006, in its own words.