Stiliyan Yuriev Emilov

Summary: This works, explores the Turkey's encounter with the concept of public service broadcasting and the construction of this concept in the Republic of Turkey, first with the radio and then inevitably with the television broadcasts. In 1926, the Republic of Turkey, which was just newly established, meets radio. Established as a joint-stock company, TTTAŞ continues radio broadcasts until 1936. With the state's transfer of radio broadcasts to Posts, Telegraph and Telephone organization, “State Radio” period started in public broadcasting. Until the establishment of TRT (Turkish Radio Television Corporation), which will be an autonomous public service broadcaster in 1964, the radio continued to stay under state control.

The Turkish society, which started to meet with television with experimental television broadcasts started in Istanbul Technical University in 1952, on January 31, 1968, with the TRT's first broadcast throughout the country, will be able to watch regular television broadcasts. The Republic and the TRT saw the television medium as a vehicle for educating the public and creating a type of citizen they wanted, rather than an entertainment platform.

Key words: construction, public service broadcast, TRT, Republic of Turkey

Изграждане на обществено радио и телевизия в Турция върху примера на TRT

Стилиян Юриев Емилов

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Резюме: Текстът изследва развитието в Турция на концепцията за обществено радио и телевизионно разпръскване, което започва през 1926 г. в  новата Република Турция. Създадена като акционерно дружество, ТТТАС продължава радио разпространението до 1936 г. С прехвърлянето на радиопредаванията от държавата на Пощенско-телеграфо-телекомуникационна организация стартира периодът "Държавно Радио" и до създаването на TRT (Турска телевизионна и радио корпорация), която през 1964 г. ще стане автономна обществена радиостанция, радиото продължава да бъде под държавен контрол.

Турското общество започва срещата си с телевизията чрез експериментални телевизионни предавания от Техническия университет в Истанбул през 1952 г. На 31 януари 1968 г. с първото излъчване на ТРТ в цялата страна се установяват редовните телевизионни предавания. Република Турция и ТРТ гледат на телевизията като на средство за образоване на гражданите и за създаване на желания тип граждани, не толкова като на развлекателна индустрия. Проучването на периода на изграждане на обществената ТРТ е възможност за запознаване с концепцията и нейното развитие около идеята за "нова медия".

Ключови думи: телевизионни услуги, телекомуникации, обществена телевизия, TRT, Република Турция

Public broadcasting is undoubtfully, as understood from the name, a broadcasting concept that adopts the principle of serving only the public without any financial or economic concerns. This understanding of broadcasting considers the masses as citizens, not consumers. This understanding lead us to examine the concept of public service. On the other hand, the concept of public service defined as the engagement of an activity called the public service by the State through an existing or newly created administration by acting on the assumption that an appearance of a common and general need in society and the exhibition of this need continuously, if this need is renewed every day and if it is not satisfied, there will be unrest in the society and peace and harmony will break. [1] The point to be emphasized here is that the public service is aimed at fulfilling a public need rather than a special need, in other words aimed at public interest. Naturally, almost every area in which there are societal needs, such as health, education, economics, communication, etc., fall into the context of public services. I believe that a general framework of technological and economic developments should be drawn in order to underline the idea of public broadcasting specific to Turkey.

First of all invention of the radio, then the television, has been the result of the developments brought by the age of enlightenment and the industrial revolution in the 18[th] and 19th centuries. While other countries have already completed the industrialization movement in these years, it is not possible to say the same thing for the newly established Republic of Turkey in 1923. There are only 4 important factories that transfer to the Republic of Turkey from the Ottoman Empire: 'Hereke Silk Weaving', 'Feshane Wool Yarn', 'Bakirkoy Fabric' and 'Beykoz Leather'. According to the statistics of 1915, the number of workplaces employing more than 10 workers in the Ottoman Empire is only 282 and 85% of them belong to foreigners. [2]

It would be unfair to say that it is too late for the time to start regular radio broadcasts of the Republic of Turkey, which is described as an agricultural society, when compared to the more industrialized states. During the Independence War, the government was interested with the wireless and the telegraph as a military instrument and communication tool, worked on the launching of radio broadcasts and the necessary legal regulations in 1925. In January 6, 1926, the establishment of the Telsiz Telefon Türk Anonim Şirketi(TTTAŞ ) [3] was approved by the Government as a joint stock company. The names of the founders of the company in the company contract are General Manager Celal Bayar on behalf of İş Bank, Siirt Deputy Mahmut Soydan on behalf of Anadolu Agency and Gümüşhane Deputy Cemal Hüsnü Taray and a merchant, Sedat Nuri İleri. 40 percent of the company's capital belongs to İş Bank, 30 percent belongs to Anadolu Agency, and the last 30 percent belongs to Falih Rıfkı, Cemal Hüsnü and Sedat Nuri. [4] It should be noted that even though this established company is considered to be a commercial company, the two major partners are public institutions. İş Bank and Anandolu Agency have been established as joint-stock companies and they are still active today. TTTAŞ made its first experimental broadcast from the antenna of Istanbul Radio. The experimental broadcasts that started in March of 1927 continued in April. Scheduled and regular broadcasts started in May 1927. [5] During this period called "Company Period" which went from 1927 to 1936, broadcast times covered a certain period of time. Radio broadcasts were usually held in the evening. During this ten-year period, the duration of the broadcasts of Istanbul Radio was about 4.5 hours and the radio of Ankara was about 3 hours .[6]

With the decree issued in 1936, it was deemed as appropriate to transfer the radio broadcasts from TTTAŞ to the state. After the liquidation of the company, the transmitters were transferred to PTT [7] (Post, Telephone, Telegraph). We can consider 1936 as the beginning date of the official transition of the Turkish radio to the state monopoly. The period until the establishment of TRT (Turkish Radio Television) in 1964 is called "State Radio". In this period, radio has been given great importance due to the task of spreading the cultural and the political ideology even to the smallest villages and the beginning of the foreign broadcasts. The radio remained under PTT control until 1940. During this period of four years of state monopoly, a new unit for radio was established. The conditions of the World War II gave importance to radio broadcasting in Turkey as it is all over the world. During PTT period, the duration of radio broadcasts has increased and a certain order has been established in the programs. The technological developments on broadcasting are coming to Turkey even if it is delayed and radio broadcasts could reach only some parts of the country.

The spread of the use of radio as a propaganda device with the World War II has shown that the control of the media is quite important for the national interest. The Turkish Government decided to make a new legislation and on May 22, 1940, the control of the radio was transferred from PTT to the General Directorate of Press under the Prime Ministry, which was newly established by Law No. 3837. One of the most important features of the next period is that radio consciousness of the state starts to develop. The Turkish State has begun to see that it can use this communication tool for its own benefit. Revolution Courses, which were broadcasted from universities and the Halkevler i[8], are the first steps taken on this path. Also from the beginning of this period, the radio has begun to be used more effectively for reminding to the public its responsibilities and duties or requesting to show some deductions from the people. [9] Hereafter the radio organization was linked to the General Directorate of Press, and then to the General Directorate of Press and Tourism.

In the period until 1964, in other words until the establishment of the TRT (Turkish Radio Television Corporation), there was no great difference in the understanding of the state power to the radio and public broadcasting. in the single party system as well as in the multi- party system in 1950. This point of view which was created during the single-party period has been preserved after being introduced to the multi-party democracy system. TRT, which has been assigned as a public service broadcaster, will be able to protect its autonomous status only until 1971.

The launch of television broadcasting in the Turkish Republic has not been at the same speed as the launch of radio broadcasts. Turkey officially began television broadcasting in 1968. When we consider the economic conditions in Turkey and the radio broadcasts still can not reach the whole country even at that time, it is easily understandable why Turkey started television broadcasting only about 30 years later than Western countries.

In 1952, Istanbul Technical University initiated experimental television broadcasting and this broadcasting continued until 1970. However, these television broadcasts reach a certain region of Istanbul and made for educational purposes during the academic term. The ITU's experimental broadcasts were first seen by the people, who do not yet have a television receiver, in the university's building in Gumussuyu and then in the Beyoglu district. The television broadcast was made by a small studio with the tools provided by Phillips under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Adnan Ataman. Another person who helped Adnan Ataman was Ilhan Arakon, who is an important cinematographer of Turkish cinema and later teaches as a lecturer at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Cinema-TV Institute. In the first broadcast in Beyoğlu, a film about the Korean War was shown, followed by a speech by journalist Burhan Felek. Television broadcasts were held every 15 days between 17.00 and 18.00 hours. The contents of broadcasts consist of theater, classical music, Turkish art and folk music concerts, health, children and cultural programs. It is considered a development to realize such a substantial program broadcasts with limited opportunities. [10]

These broadcasts which initiated by the Istanbul Technical University lasted until 1970, continued two years more after the launch of TRT's broadcasts at 1968. As a result of the events of 1968, broadcasts were cut off by the attacks of a group of students in ITU. After the interruption of broadcasts, ITU transferred the technical equipment of the television to TRT. TRT made its first broadcasts with this technical equipment. [11]

The Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) was established with the enactment of the law No. 359 on December 24, 1963, entered into force on May 1, 1964. This law defines TRT as autonomous, monopolist and neutral in its broadcasts. For the first time in the history of broadcasting in Turkey, existing radio broadcasts and future television broadcasts are legally secured. Through these principles, it is aimed to prevent the influence and pressure of the governments on the mass media and also aimed that TRT to be an institution that monopolizes public service broadcasting. Article 35 of Law No. 359 states that the right to establish and operate radio and television stations is only belong to the TRT institution. Autonomy has been given to the institution to fulfill its duty of impartial broadcast. The exclusion of the government intervention from radio and television broadcasts does not mean that radio and television administrations have absolute freedom when they organize their programs. Autonomy, independence, impartiality do not mean arbitrariness. [12]

The 1961 Constitution considered the concept of autonomy as a protective measure to reduce the pressure of political power in which was occurred in previous periods on broadcasts and to save the radio from the state of a propaganda device. Autonomy states that the program is not dependent on political power in the construction, management and economics. But this concept does not mean that everyone will benefit from radio and television without any limitations or that every program maker can program according to his or her personal measures. The boundaries of radio autonomy are under a defined responsibility, without any clear or indefinite commitment to any interest groups (which political power is one of them) outside the radio; to serve with all kinds of thoughts with its opposite, not only to a certain minority, but to serve the whole of the people; to be absolutely impartial in political matters. To put it briefly, it means in any case the radio as a public institution must be out of order and hierarchy of political power. [13]

Sedat Tolga, Behçet Kemal Caglar, Bedri Karafakioğlu, İsmet Giritli, Halil Dikmen, Refik Ahmet Sevengil, Seniha Eke and Ulvi Çulpan are among the first management committees of the TRT Institution. The Board of Directors unanimously appointed Adnan Öztrak as the first General Director of TRT. [14] Adnan Öztrak was born in 1915 in Malkara and graduated from Ankara University, Law School. Adnan Öztrak, who had never experienced pbroadcasting before, was the General Directorate of the Red Crescent and his General Directorate position lasted for 7 years.

The first thing TRT has done is to ask for technical assistance from Germany in accordance with the cooperation with the Federal Republic of Germany. Within this cooperation framework, experts are invited from Germany to train television broadcasters. The German team in order to start the television broadcasting, sets up a studio on an apartment floor in Ankara, where the equipment is entirely donated from Germany. In the meantime, personnels are sent to England, Italy and France to make examinations. The first planned period for TRT television broadcasts started with the establishment of the Television Department under TRT and appointment of Mahmut Tali Öngören as the head of the Television Department. In this period, the personnel who will broadcast television are placed in appropriate positions. [15]

TRT is now slowly setting up its staff and taking steps towards institutionalization. In 1964, first joined the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and then the Asian Broadcasting Union (ABU). During these years, in order to meet the requirements of the broadcast staff exams were arranged for producer, announcer, researcher, interviewer and over one thousand candidates have applied for these exams. Broadcasters who have won the exams have been assigned to meet the needs in different cities. The institution has received and trained new staff members and sent them to in-service and overseas trainings periodically to increase the knowledge and experience of the existing staff.

In the first years of television, not only were the staff sent abroad for education, but experts from abroad were also brought in. Based on the technical agreement between the Government of Turkey and the Federal Government of Germany, training specialists were sent to Ankara. Later on in the framework of the agreement with the BBC, a specialist from BBC television was able to organize courses for TRT. In the television programs prepared in these courses, training was also given for decor, costume, graphic. Broadcasters who comes from mostly Ankara Radio have participated in trainings given by experts such as German expert Jürgen Branke and Leonard Chase from the BBC. It has come to the conclusion that the training provided by the expert from the BBC is more useful. These trainings from different specialists has occasionally caused problems and conflicts among employees. The fact that the technical assistance comes from the Federal Republic of Germany and the education from the BBC shows that there is not a very planned and comprehensive study on this issue. Decisions are taken according to the situation and needs, and action is taken without any detailed planning in depth. The sudden launch of television broadcasts without any planned preparations also supports this point of view. In the following years, this issue has been much debated. After Federal Germany started to color television broadcasts, it is said that it has made technical assistance to Turkey to sell its black and white television stock and find a market. It has been argued that it would be more accurate to start with color television technology, as Turkey has started its television broadcasts so late. It is understood that these arguments are not so unfair when expanses of the reconstruction of the TRT's color broadcast technique are considered. [16]

In 1965 the Center for Program Planning was established and all TRT radios were intended to be programmed in a certain order. The institution has worked to increase the radio broadcast hours and after a while started broadcasting full-time. In addition, powerful radio stations have been established, but broadcasts have been maintained with programs prepared by the center due to the lack of trained broadcasting staff to work on these radios. When the types of programs are examined, it can be understood that there is no balance in speech and music broadcasts. However, rather than focusing on music programs, the implementation of more speech programs is a correct approach in terms of broadcasting.

Television broadcasts started with the technical support of the Federal Republic of Germany started as an experimental broadcast on the 3rd Band 5th Channel. The television broadcast, which started on January 31, 1968 at 19.30, appeared in front of the audience with the announcement of the speaker Nuran Emren. After the opening speech of Ankara Television Director Mahmut Tali Öngören, the program titled History of Turkish Revolution prepared by Professor Afet İnan was broadcasted. At 20.00, with the gong sound the first TV news speaker Zafer Cilasun appeared on the television screen and read the news. Then Zeynep Arıduru (Esen) presented the weather forecast. After broadcasting the cartoon Bad

Man-Stubborn Flower, a documentary film called Antalya Forests was shown. The broadcast which started at 19.30 continued with the closing announcement at 20.50 and ended with the reading of the Turkish National Anthem at 20.51 with the Turkish flag image. [17]

When we look at the first television broadcasts of TRT, we can say that it is quite formal and the educational side is heavily in the foreground. In the first years radio and television have been seen as a very good complement to education, believed that it is a remedy of inequalities and has a great role in the creation of development awareness. For this reason, a number of tasks have been assigned to these tools, from "placing the idea of equality of people in society" to "providing an education to help specialization of individuals". [18] In those years, television was not seen as an entertainment device but as a device of giving education and culture, the first broadcasts did not consider a program aimed at entertaining the public. If we try to analyze the situation of the 1968 primitive Turkish viewer, we can easily say that it is not possible to find other kind of understanding. This didactic attitude developed by the television institution is sufficiently clear and understandable that the Turkish audience has not yet formed a television culture and a perceiving grammar with it.

Although the understanding of television as an educational tool overlaps with TRT's understanding of public service broadcasting, it has not fulfilled this function for a variety of reasons. For example, the program, Köye ve Köyden Kente (To Country and From Country to City), did not reach its goal because the target mass could not have enough TV receivers. For this reason, in 1969 TV receivers were distributed to 4 villages that received Ankara's television broadcasts. [19] The notion of educationalism attributed to television in those years clearly manifests itself in the practices such as collective screening of agricultural programs in villages which prepared for television. In 1970, with a population of more than 35 million, only 50 thousand TV receiver was registered in Turkey. [20] This number will increase over the years and television will rise to the first place in mass communication.

In public service broadcasting, it is expected that program planning should be prepared in a variety that will respond to the various needs of the community. However, publishing policies and plans in the first years of TRT were created with effects such as press, correspondence, employees' opinions. TRT has been accused of not being able to structure a certain broadcast form, not having a plan. In this period, since a regular broadcast stream can not be created, newspapers can not be notified of their programs and they are broadcasting immediately "whatever is available". [21] The program structure of TRT television is not based on scientific researches, public opinion polls, but on the publishing and programming concepts of the administrators, randomness has become dominant on the program structure of the television given by the unscrupulousness and non-institutionalization. [22]

In the early years of the experimental broadcasts of television, domestic productions such as Art Events, Saturday Night, TV's Window are prepared with great enthusiasm and are watched with great excitement. [23] In these years, it is seen that the domestic productions were the mojarity such as TV Folk School, Art Events, Şehzadebaşı 1918, The Youth Wants to Know, 23 April 1920. [24]

In 1969, aid from the Federal Republic of Germany was also influential in programming. TV series and educational programs were German-made external programs. The music programs were French, The Great War and some others were BBC productions. [25]

When program journals are scanned during the period of experimental broadcasting, irregularity is striking even in periodically broadcasted programs. A program that had not been announced beforehand on certain broadcast days could be put on the air. On the other hand, in the same TV broadcast year similar programs with almost same contents were broadcasted. Broadcasting a socio-cultural, predominantly geographical program called People of Various Countries, with the the broadcasting of a similar program, such as Paraguay with Unknown Aspects, suggests the possibility of broadcasting whatever is available or random selection. In general, when looking at daily program flows it creates an impression that it is not a professional broadcast arrangement, but an amateur television show. [26]

The 1970s, when social conflicts, university boycotts, right-left conflicts and polarizations were experienced, caused lots of political changes and TRT received a share of these changes. The rise of incidents has led to the spread of violence and resulted with a narrowing the freedom environment which brought by the 1961 Constitution. As a public service broadcaster TRT has been tasked with addressing every segment of the society and providing a place to every fraction on its programs. Woefully over those years, TRT has been accused of poor-mouthing because of the village oriented programs. Following the 1965 elections, the accelerated process of democratization made possible to make various groups voices heard. The use of violence in events that started with student protests and spread to other parts of the society has led to great tensions in society. Naturally, these political and social events reflected on the TRT screens and microphones. This reflection disturbs the rulers, causing the question of the newly introduced concept of "autonomy" in state administration. [27]

The military coup, which took place on 12 March 1971, amended the Article 121, which regulates the TRT Law, as well as laws restricting freedoms in the Constitution. The autonomy of TRT has been abolished, only the impartiality has been kept. In addition, General Manager of TRT shall be appointed by the Council of Ministers, not by the Board of Directors.

Turkey is in a difficult period in terms of social, political and economical life in the late 1970s. In the period when acts of violence, economic problems and social upheavals were experienced, another military movement that halted the democratic regime took place and with the military coup on September 12, 1980 General Kenan Evren took control of the Turkish Republic. The 1982 Constitution, which followed the military coup, and the TRT Law No. 2954, which was issued on the basis of this constitution, continued the TRT's dependence to the political power. With this law, Radio Television Supreme Council has been established, which will do post-broadcast supervision, control the compliance with broadcasting principles, and determine candidates for the general manager and the board of directors. With the amendment of Article 133 of the Constitution in 1993, the autonomy of the TRT was restored, while the private radio and television broadcasts allowed. Today, TRT serves as a public service broadcaster with autonomy and impartiality protected by the constitution, broadcasting on radio and television and all media devices. With the channels such as; TRT 1, TRT World, TRT Haber, TRT Spor, TRT Belgesel, TRT Çocuk, TRT Avaz, TRT Muzik, TRT Türk, TRT Diyanet, TRT Okul, TRT Kurdi, TRT El Arabia, TRT 4K, TRT 3 - TBMM TV Turkish Radio and Television Corporation continues to its broadcast life.

References:

1. Ozay, Il Han. Günışığında Yönetim. Istanbul: Filiz Kitabevi, 2004, p. 227.

2. Meydan, Sinan. Akl-ı Kemal Cilt: 3. Istanbul: İnkılap Kitabevi, 2012, p. 99.

3. Can be translated to Wireless Telephone Turkish Corporation.

4. Kocabasoglu, Uygur. Şirket Telsizinden Devlet Radyosuna. Ankara: A. Ü. SBF Yayınları, 1980, p. 9.

5. Kocabasoglu, Uygur. Şirket Telsizinden Devlet Radyosuna. Ankara: A. Ü. SBF Yayınları, 1980, p. 29.

6. Kocabasoglu, Uygur. Şirket Telsizinden Devlet Radyosuna. Ankara: A. Ü. SBF Yayınları, 1980, p. 57.

7. National Post and Telegraph directorate.

8. Community centers which was heavily supported by the Republican People's Party during the single-party period.

9. Kocabasoglu, Uygur. Şirket Telsizinden Devlet Radyosuna. Ankara: A. Ü. SBF Yayınları, 1980, p. 132-178.

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11. Tekinalp, Sermin. Camera Obscura'dan Synopticon'a Teknolojik, Kurumsal ve Kültürel Evrim. Istanbul: Beta Basim Yayim Dagitim A.S., 2011, p. 228.

12. Golcuklu, Feyyaz. Haberleşme Hukuku. Ankara: A.U.B.Y.Y.O. Yayinlari, 1970, p. 219.

13. Cankaya, Ozden. Dünden Bugüne Radyo Televizyon. Istanbul: Beta Basim Yayim Dagitim A.S., 1997, p. 24.

14. Cankaya, Ozden. Dünden Bugüne Radyo Televizyon. Istanbul: Beta Basim Yayim Dagitim A.S., 1997, p. 23

15. Tekinalp, Sermin. Camera Obscura'dan Synopticon'a Teknolojik, Kurumsal ve Kültürel Evrim. Istanbul: Beta Basim Yayim Dagitim A.S., 2011, p. 229.

16. Cankaya, Ozden. Bir Kitle İletişim Kurumunun Tarihi: TRT 1927-2000. Ankara: Imge Kitabevi Yayinlari,

2015, p. 80

17. Cankaya, Ozden. Bir Kitle İletişim Kurumunun Tarihi: TRT 1927-2000. Ankara: Imge Kitabevi Yayinlari,

2015, p. 80.

18. Koksal, A. Ulker. TRT Kurumu'nun Ekonomik Kültürel ve Toplumsal Kalkınmamızdaki Rolü. Ankara: TRT Basili Yayinlar Mudurlugu, 1970, p. 16-18.

19. Cankaya, Ozden. Bir Kitle İletişim Kurumunun Tarihi: TRT 1927-2000. Ankara: Imge Kitabevi Yayinlari,

2015, p. 84.

20. Azis, Aysel. Radyo ve Televizyona Giriş. Ankara: A. U. SBF Yayinlari, 1981, p. 126.

21. Serim, Omer. Türk Televizyon Tarihi: 1952-2006. Istanbul: Epsilon Yayincilik, 2007, p. 54.

22. Cankaya, Ozden. Türk Televizyonunun Program Yapısı. Istanbul: Mozaik Basimevi, 1990, p. 11-12.

23. Serim, Omer. Türk Televizyon Tarihi: 1952-2006. Istanbul: Epsilon Yayincilik, 2007, p. 53.

24 Cankaya, Ozden. Türk Televizyonunun Program Yapısı. Istanbul: Mozaik Basimevi, 1990, p. 15.

25. Cankaya, Ozden. Türk Televizyonunun Program Yapısı. Istanbul: Mozaik Basimevi, 1990, p. 15.

26. Cankaya, Ozden. Bir Kitle İletişim Kurumunun Tarihi: TRT 1927-2000. Ankara: Imge Kitabevi Yayinlari,

2015, p. 83.

27. Cankaya, Ozden. Bir Kitle İletişim Kurumunun Tarihi: TRT 1927-2000. Ankara: Imge Kitabevi Yayinlari,

2015, p. 86-87.

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