Around 70 leave Türkiye's Halk TV after state takeover

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 12 November 2026 |  JP News Desk

Journalist Onur Dalar says about 70 employees have left Turkey's Halk TV since a state trustee took over. His count, reported by Karar, includes both dismissals and voluntary departures.

Summary

ISTANBUL — Around 70 employees have left Türkiye's Halk TV since a state-appointed trustee took control of the broadcaster in October, according to journalist Onur Dalar, raising fresh concerns about the future of the channel's workforce.

Dalar said the figure included employees dismissed by the new management and those who left voluntarily, Karar reported on November 11. The broadcaster has not publicly confirmed the total, while a reported plan to reduce staffing across departments remains unverified.

Dismissals and departures

A day earlier, Dalar said the trustee management had begun dismissals, and that six people he personally knew had been called to the channel to be dismissed, according to Karar. His account did not establish how many of those employees were ultimately dismissed.

Dalar also said he understood that staffing in every department would be reduced by 30 percent. Karar did not report confirmation of such a plan from the management or the trustee.

The reported departures follow weeks of uncertainty for Halk TV employees after the October 14 operation at its Istanbul premises. Staff were placed on administrative leave, while senior management saw resignations.

Takeover and staff leave

Turkey’s Savings Deposit Insurance Fund, known as TMSF, was appointed trustee following an investigation involving channel owner Cafer Mahiroğlu. A trustee in this context is an administrator appointed to manage the affected businesses; the appointment is not a criminal conviction.

Media Freedom Rapid Response, a coalition of press freedom organizations, said a court ordered the seizure of companies linked to Mahiroğlu and appointed TMSF. The investigation concerns allegations of bribery, bid-rigging and laundering the proceeds of crime.

Mahiroğlu denied the allegations and described the takeover as politically motivated, The Associated Press reported. The allegations are under investigation, not established findings of guilt.

Haberler reported that a management notice initially placed employees on administrative leave from October 16 to 23, unless their unit managers instructed otherwise. It also reported the resignation of editor-in-chief Suat Toktaş, who said he would not work with a trustee. On October 30, 24 Saat Gazetesi reported that leave had been extended until another instruction, again subject to directions from unit managers.

Restrictions and press freedom response

Halk TV’s broadcasts were interrupted during the October 14 operation. The International Federation of Journalists said journalists and other media workers were prevented from entering the newsroom; it and other journalists’ organizations condemned the trustee appointment and suspension of broadcasts.

The Media and Law Studies Association reported that Halk TV accounts on YouTube, X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Telegram were restricted on October 14. It said the restrictions were imposed under Article 8/A of Turkey’s internet law, but that the issuing authority and decision numbers had not been disclosed.

On October 15, a separate coalition of press freedom groups called for the trustee arrangement to end, broadcasting to resume and the channel’s editorial independence to be restored. The groups’ statements addressed the takeover and restrictions, not Dalar’s later count of staff departures.

ATTRIBUTION: Karar, November 11, 2026; Associated Press and International Federation of Journalists, October 14, 2026; Media Freedom Rapid Response, October 15, 2026; Haberler, October 16, 2026; Media and Law Studies Association, October 19, 2026; 24 Saat Gazetesi, October 30, 2026.

PHOTO: AI-generated; for illustrative purposes only.