The Bayrak Radio and Television Corporation (BRTK) is the official radio and television broadcaster of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The station was established in 1963 during the conflicts between the Greek and Turkish communities on the island, which resulted in the division of Cyprus into the north and the south. Until then, CyBC had been the sole official broadcaster in Cyprus, also covering the Turkish minority. In 1976, Bayrak Radio changed its name to its current one, BRTK.
Media assets
Television: BRT1, BRT2
Radio: Bayrak Radyosu, Bayrak International, Bayrak FM, Bayrak Klasik, Bayrak Turk Muzigi, Bayrak Radyo Haber
State Media Matrix Typology: State-Controlled (SC)
Ownership and governance
BRTK was established by the BRTK Law of 1983 as a public entity owned by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus government. The highest governing authority at BRTK is a seven-member board, with a majority appointed by the authorities. This includes the BRTK director, who is also a board member, two other members appointed by the government, and another member appointed by the security forces. The remaining three members are appointed by the station’s staff, academic institutions, and the press, with one representative from each group.
Source of funding and budget
Under the BRTK Law, BRTK is required to be funded through various sources, including advertising revenues, commercial sales, and donations. The law specifies that the government is responsible for covering any financial shortfalls the station may experience due to slower commercial sales.
In recent years, the Turkish government in Cyprus has consistently provided nearly the entire budget of the BRTK. In 2020, approximately TRY 124m (US$15.2 m) of BRTK’s total budget of TRY 126m came from the state budget, according to government data. In 2022, BRTK received a state subsidy of TRY 245.5m (US$13.5 m), which covered most of its expenses. Parliament approved a budget of TRY 1.03bn (US$ 35.6m) for BRTK for 2024.
Editorial independence
As a state-owned corporation in Cyprus, BRTK’s editorial agenda is heavily influenced by the Turkish government’s authorities. An ad hoc content analysis for this project run in May 2022 found a visible bias in the station’s coverage, with most of the news focusing on the activities of the President and the government of the Northern Cyprus Republic.
Although BRTK states on its website that “neutral” journalism is one of the values by which it abides, no domestic statute establishing the station’s editorial independence was identified during the latest round of research for this report.
August 2024