Fox TV anchor responds to RTÜK probe over 'biased' comments

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Fox TV anchor Selçuk Tepeli has responded to the chair of the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), who accused him of "acting like an opposition leader."

"Opposition is a wrong word ... I'm doing critical journalism. It's natural that I criticize those who have unlimited power and minimum responsibility," he said during yesterday's (January 20) broadcast.

"I am not an opposition leader, but if I had been in the opposition for that long, I would definitely take power," Tepeli added.

Sharing a clip from Fox TV's news broadcast on January 19, RTÜK Chair Ebubekir Şahin said on Twitter that Selçuk Tepeli was acting like an opposition leader and it was "unacceptable." Later, the RTÜK launched a probe into Fox TV.

The RTÜK has long been criticized for being unfair to broadcasters critical of the government.

In 2021 alone, the council imposed 71 administrative fines on critical broadcasters, which accounted for 21.5 million lira in total. The related fines were imposed on Halk TV, Tele1 , Fox TV and KRT and Habertürk TV.

Despite complaints, pro-government channels such as A Haber, Ülke TV, Kanal 7, TV-NET and CNN Türk were not given a single fine. (HA/VK)