Ql - ITO

ı 4
İSTANBUL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
accordance with the governınent ideology: belly dancing, "arabesque" 3 which
was the most popular local music genre, some of the popular comedy films
which were considered inappropriate because of the slang expressions they
have contained although were applauded during their release in theatres, were
among the programs that were banned.
As will be seen in the reıated c hapter bel o w, during the reign of Ozal
governınents 4 , which processed towards a normalization period after the coup
d' etats and towards the implementation of liberal economy, legal regulations on
TV broadcasting area have commenced. During this period in which state
monopoly stili persisted, TRT has first started broadcasting on a second
channel, and then on a third one which focused on local broadcasting targeting
South Eastem regions. However, it was obvious that the expectations of the
viewers could not be fulfilled by TRT. Turkey's first private (commercial) TV
station Magic Box, although illegal, has started its broadcasts from abroad in
ı990 by the help of satellite technology. This new channel, which was not
bound by the existing legal structure in the country, became the hotspot of
audi en ce s with the diversified altematives of programıning it had offered.
After 30 years of state monopoly, TV has formed one of the privileged
areas for private entrepreneurs.
So m uc h that, Turkey w as introduced to ı O different new channels within a
few years in 90's; the competition between the TV channels has nourished the
search for new formats and contents and also has accelerated the growth of
advertising industry and even of the communication industry in general. This
actual (de facto) situation has generated the need for legal regulations in TV
For a sociological study on arabesque music cf. Meral Özbek, "Arabesk Culture: A Case of
Modemization and Popular Identity", in Rethinking Modernity and National Identity in Turkey,
Sibel Bozdoğan and Reşat Kasaba (eds.), Chapter 12, University of Michigan Press, 1997.
http://library.northsouth.edu/Upload/Rethinking%20Modemity.pdf, 01.08.2011
Turgut Özal was PrimeMinister of Turkey between 1983-1989 and eighth President of Turkey
(1989-1993). He is known by his liberal economic views and by paving the way for the
privatization of state enterprises.