UPDATE - Turkish public, global broadcaster TRT marks 57th year

UPDATES WITH STATEMENT OF TURKEY'S COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

By Yasemin Kalyoncuoglu and Mumin Altas

ANKARA (AA) - The Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT), which has broadcast numerous historical events to the public since its foundation over half a century ago, marks its 57th foundation anniversary on Saturday.

TRT was established on May 1, 1964, to broadcast on radio and TV on behalf of the state.

Today, the public broadcaster, whose autonomy and impartiality is written into the Constitution, serves not only Turkey but the entire world.

The global network is on the air in Turkey and the rest of the world with its 17 TV channels, 16 radio stations, its trt.net.tr website and trtvotworld.com website in 41 languages, and five printed journals.

Ibrahim Eren, Chairman and Director General of TRT, said in an interview with Anadolu Agency that TRT manifested the visual and auditory memory of Turkey, endeavoring to reach everyone in the country with its understanding of public broadcasting and always keeping the bar high as a school of broadcasting in the nation.

He stressed that TRT is an organization that "competes with itself only."
"Based on the first radio broadcast on May 6, 1927, and the first television broadcast on Jan. 31, 1968, TRT has always achieved success by drawing a path that competes with itself, with nearly a century of experience," he said.

Eren underlined that they were now working to make TRT a worldwide broadcaster.

"While maintaining the core values of TRT dating back to nearly 100 years, we're updating it to meet today's media needs," he added.

Eren said TRT would put out internationally impactful productions in the coming period, such as a series on the adventures of Oruc Reis on the high seas and productions that depict the life of Mevlana Jalaluddin al-Rumi, a 13th-century Sufi mystic, poet, and Islamic scholar.

He went on to say that TRT Balkans would also start broadcasting in a short time.

"Our next step will be our French news platform, and we'll continue to reach the world with our new news platforms that we'll establish in other languages," he added.

- Voice of nation

Marking the 57th foundation anniversary of TRT, Communications Director Fahrettin Altun sent a congratulatory message to Eren, noting that TRT, which increases the diversity and quality of its broadcasting day-by-day without compromising the basic broadcasting principles and the values ​​of the nation, puts its signature on publications that draw attention with the humancentric approach.

Altun emphasized that TRT, which has pioneered innovations in the media sector in terms of both infrastructure and content, continues to be a school in the field of broadcasting.

"While TRT reinforces its success in reliable reporting with culture, arts, sports, education and children channels, it also tells the world about the power of our country and makes the voice of our nation heard through international broadcasts in different languages," he said.

Altun underlined that they are also pleased with the intense interest in TRT's quality productions -- in which nations' historical, cultural and human values are reflected in a righteous manner -- showed by both Turkish nation and countries from all over the world, including those in Europe, Asia, the Balkans, and Africa.

"I believe that TRT will implement innovative and powerful projects from now on, in line with the call of our president for 'communication mobilization' for truth in every platform," he said.

The Directorate of Communications will continue to support TRT "with all means," Altun said, adding that he believes that TRT will become a world brand with its investments in line with its vision of global impact and digitalization.