Bayrak Radio and Television (BRTK)
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. Until then, the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (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
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.
In terms of management, the current General Manager of BRTK is Meryem Özkurt, with Salih Can Doratli serving as Chairman and Eray Göksoylu as Vice Chairman.
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 (US15.2m) 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 (US13.5m), which covered most of its expenses. Parliament approved a budget of TRY 1.03bn (US$35.6m) for BRTK for 2024. Data regarding the 2025-2026 budget for BRTK is not publicly available.
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 by the Media and Journalism Research Center 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.
While BRTK states on its website that “neutral” journalism is one of the values it abides by, no domestic statute establishing the station’s editorial independence was identified during the latest round of research. Most news reports broadcast from Bayrak are provided courtesy of the Turkish News Agency – Cyprus (TAK).
August 2025