TGRT (initialism of Türkiye Gazete Radyo Televizyon, 'Türkiye Newspaper, Radio, Television') is a Turkish free-to-air television channel. Launched by İhlas Holding as one of Turkey's earliest private television broadcasters on April 22, 1993, it operated until February 2007 when it was replaced by FOX, whose parent company News Corporation had purchased the broadcasting rights of TGRT on July 25, 2006. The sale, which marked the first time a Turkish television channel was sold to foreign capital, included the broadcasting rights and the terrestrial broadcasting frequencies belonging . It resumed broadcasting on the frequency previously used by TGRT EU, which had ceased operations on August 14, 2026. It broadcasts jointly with TGRT Haber on a 24/7 basis.
History 1993-1998
TGRT, one of Türkiye's first private television channels, was founded by Enver Ören on April 22, 1993, in the Cağaloğlu, Cibali, and Fatih districts. Established during the same era as channels such as Star TV, Teleon, Show TV, Kanal 6, HBB, Samanyolu TV, Flash TV, and Mesaj TV, TGRT adopted a broadcasting style characterized by conservative and nationalist values in its early years; it distinguished itself through religious films, talk shows, productions depicting the lives of saints and Islamic scholars, Quran recitations (*mukabele*), documentaries, and family-oriented series. It also delivered impactful news bulletins to its audience by sharing a common broadcasting policy with the İhlas News Agency—another entity established by the İhlas Group and one of Turkey's first private news agencies. Concurrently, TGRT FM —one of Türkiye's first private radio stations—also began broadcasting during this same period.
1998–2007 Sales process and initial closing
Starting in 1998, TGRT completely shifted its broadcasting direction, adopting a style focused heavily on entertainment, music, celebrity news, and TV series, and quickly became one of Türkiye's most-watched channels. Famous figures such as Seda Sayan, Sibel Can, Gülben Ergen, Seren Serengil, Hülya Avşar, Ebru Gündeş, Pınar Altuğ, Muazzez Ersoy, Sibel Turnagöl, Sinan Özen, Cüneyt Arkın, Kadir İnanır, Kenan Doğulu, Kenan Kalav, Mehmet Ali Erbil, Alişan, Özcan Deniz, Mahsun Kırmızıgül, Erkan Petekkaya, and Emrah began producing TV series and entertainment programs for the channel. During those years, Jülide Ateş anchored the channel's main news bulletin. In 1998, TGRT changed its logo and moved it from the top-right corner to the bottom-right corner of the screen.
TGRT was affected by the events following the economic crisis that struck İhlas Finans—part of İhlas Holding—in 2001, and it gradually began to lose its former popularity. Although it was once the channel where Turkey's most famous figures hosted programs, it continued its broadcasting activities, albeit not to the same extent as before. On February 10, 2001, the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BRSA) suspended the operating license of İhlas Finans via Decision No. 171, and the company entered a liquidation process; from that time onward, TGRT moved away from its previous level of popularity. Starting in 2004, new channels—TGRT Haber, TGRT Pazarlama, and TGRT EU—began broadcasting. In 2010, the TGRT Pazarlama channel was renamed TGRT Belgesel; subsequently, the TGRT EU channel was replaced by TGRT, which continues its broadcasting operations under that name.
Struggling to settle debts stemming from the collapse of İhlas Finans amidst the economic crisis, the group sold TGRT—along with Huzur Radyo TV A.Ş.—to the American company News Corporation in 2006. In July 2006, all shares of the channel were sold to News Corporation and Ahmet Ertegün, with the stipulation that the rights to the TGRT name would remain with the İhlas Group. Subsequently, the frequency of TGRT EU—which broadcast to Turks in Europe—was included in the sale, and FOX Türk began broadcasting.
The sale in question covered only TGRT's frequency (the frequency of TGRT EU was subsequently included in the sale as well). The TGRT brand remained with the İhlas Group. During the channel's transition period, its logo was reduced in size on November 15, 2006, and on January 26, 2007, it lost its color and became transparent. In a special program held on the evening of February 24, 2007, TGRT ceased broadcasting under that name and handed over its frequency to the channel that adopted the name FOX (now known as NOW TV). Kenan Doğulu also performed a concert during the event. The channel that replaced TGRT continues to broadcast today under the name NOW. Meanwhile, entities such as TGRT Haber, TGRT Pazarlama, and TGRT FM continue their operations under İhlas Holding. Following the passing of Enver Ören, İhlas Holding—under the leadership of Mücahit Ören—continues its activities in the media sector today with TGRT, TGRT Haber, TGRT Belgesel, TGRT FM, and the Turkey newspaper.
2025-Present
Iounced on March 26, 2025, that journalist Cem Küçük had obtained the license for TGRT's entertainment channel and that an application had been filed with the Public Disclosure Platform(KAP).
On the same day, TGRT Haber Editor-in-Chief Ercan Seki announced the news by sharing a photo on his X (social network) account that featured the TGRT logo and the phrase "on the way."
TGRT resumed broadcasting after TGRT EU ceased operations on August 14, 2026.
Programs broadcast by TGRT
Programs broadcast between 1993 and 2007
Domestic television series 1993: Kumarbazlar (TGRT's first series) 1993: Ah Gurbet 1993: Annemi İstiyorum 1993: Avukatımı İstiyorum 1993: Evlere Şenlik 1993: Hayatın İçinden 1993: Merhamet 1993: Şişeler 1993: Uyuşturucu 1993: Camgöz 1993: Firar 1993: Boy Aynası 1993: Sevginin Bittiği Yerde 1993: Kederli Yıllar 1993: Nasreddin Hoca 1993-1994: Deli Balta 1994: İnsanlar Yaşadıkça 1994: Bekarlık Sultanlık mı? 1994: Kanayan Yara Bosna 1994: Gurur 1994: Mutlugiller 1994: Yaz Boz Tahtası 1995: Zehra Ana 1996: Baharda Solanlar 1996: Servet Bey 1996: Durum Bundan İbaret 1996: Dullar Pansiyonu 1996: Kır Çiçekleri 1996: Kalbimi Kıra Kıra 1993-1997: Komşular 1996-1997: Solan Gül 1997: İntizar 1997: Beyaz Savaşı 1997: Kılıbıklar Mahallesi 1995-1998: Bizim Ev 1997-1998: Bizim Kuruntu Ailesi 1997-1998: İskele Sokak 1998: Kader 1998: Hüzün Çiçeği 1998: Hicran Yarası 1998: Ğ TV 1998: Üç Yapraklı Yonca 1997-1999: Şengün Konağı 1998-1999: Eltiler 1998-1999: Erguvan Yılları 1998-1999: Kırık Hayatlar 1998-1999: Süt Kardeşler 1999: Ah Bir Zengin Olsam 1999: Belalım Benim 1999: Kedi 1998-2000: Marziye 1999-2000: Aşkın Dağlarda Gezer 1999-2000: Beş Maymun Çetesi 1999-2000: Bize Ne Oldu 1999-2001: Evimiz Olacak mı? 2000: Nilgün 2000: Paşa Baba Konağı 2000: Kurt Kapanı 2000: Tirvana 2000: Karate Can 2000: Güneşe Doğru 2000-2001: Derman Bey 2000-2001: Şükran Büfe 2000-2001: Zor Hedef 2000-2001: Benim İçin Ağlama 2001: Baldız Geliyorum Demez 2001-2002: Aşkına Eşkiya (It moved to Show TV.) 2001-2002: Günah 2002: Çocuklar Duymasın (Switched to atv.) 2002: Derya & Deniz 2002: Şemsi Paşa Pasajı 2002: Öyle Bir Sevda ki 2002: Kardelen 2002: Sevdim Seni Bir Kere 2002: Paşalı 2002: Keje 2002-2003: Deliboran Destanı 2003: Bedel 2003: Bizim Konak 2003: Kirve 2003-2004: Büyükannenin Konağı 2004: 6.His 2004: Bizim Karakol 2004: Harput Güneşi 2004-2005: Çocuğun Var Derdin Var 2005: Kaynana Semira 2005: Kendi Bırak Gitsin 2005: El Bebek Gül Bebek 2004-2006: Türkü Filmi 2005-2006: Haylaz Babam 2006: Gizli Dünyalar (Aytaç Yürükaslan) (Came from Show TV.) 2006: Deli Dolu 2006: Erkeksen Seyret 2006: Aynı Çatı Altında (TGRT's latest series)
Foreign TV series
Acil Servis Law & Order Nikita Samuray Yıldız Geçidi SG-1 1998-2005: Gizli Dosyalar
Cinema
1993-2007: TGRT İlk Yabancı Sinema Kuşağı 1993-2007: TGRT Türk Sineması Kuşağı 1993-2007: TGRT Pazar Sineması Kuşağı 1993-2007: TGRT Western Sineması Kuşağı
Competition
4x4 Anadolu Rüzgarı Mahalleler Yarışıyor 2003-2004: Çarkıfelek (Ata Demirer, *Muazzez Ersoy, Tuğba Özay ve Mehmet Ali Erbil) (She came from Kanal D, then moved to atv.) 2006: Şahane Cumartesi (Süheyl ve Behzat Uygur)(Came from Kanal D.) 2006: Şahane Pazar (Süheyl ve Behzat Uygur) (Came from Kanal D.) 2006: Anlat Bakalım (Oktay Kaynarca) (Switched to Kanal 7.)
Music - Entertainment
By-Kuş Show Klip Shop Müzik Market Sev Yeter (Atilla Kaya ve Sinan Özen) 1994-2004: Vitrin (Meral Konrat) 1995-1996: Hoş Seda (Seda Sayan) 1996-1997: Orhan Abi Halk Show (Orhan Gencebay) 1996: İbo Show (İbrahim Tatlıses)(Came from Star TV. Moved to atv.) 1996-2001: İzzet-i İkram (İzzet Altınmeşe) 1999-2000: Seren Serengil Bu Gecenin Hatırına Show (Seren Serengil) 1999-2000: Sibel Can ve Selami Şahin Show (Sibel Can ve Selami Şahin) 1999-2000: Ebru Gündeş'le İkinci Hayat (Ebru Gündeş) 1999-2000: Pazar Eğlencesi (Sibel Turnagöl ve Sinan Özen) 1999-2000: Ericsson ile Millenium Show 2000-2005: Sibel Turnagöl Show (Sibel Turnagöl) 2001-2003: İzzet Yıldızhan Show (İzzet Yıldızhan) (It moved to Show TV.) 2002: Söz Müzik Ahmet Şafak (Ahmet Şafak) 2002-2005: Müslüm Gürses ve Yunus Bülbül Show (Müslüm Gürses ve Yunus Bülbül) 2003-2005: Alişan'lı Gece (Alişan) 2003-2004: Türüt Show (İsmail Türüt) (Came from Kanal 7 and moved to Flash TV.) 2003-2004: Ebru Gündeş Show (Ebru Gündeş) 2003-2004: Şarkıların Sultanı (Muazzez Ersoy) 2003-2004: Eyvan (Mahmut Tuncer) 2004: Eyvanına Vardım (Muazzez Ersoy) 2006: Ebru Gündeş Mega Show (Ebru Gündeş) 2006: Hülya Avşar Show (Hülya Avşar) (Came from Kanal D, moved to TNT.) 2006: Türkü Gecesi (Ceylan ve Nihat Doğan)
Comedy
Şaka Olsun (Lerzan Mutlu) 2000: Kahkaha Show 1993-1994: Gülünüz Güldürünüz (Öztürk Serengil) 2004: Olacak O Kadar (Came from Show TV and moved to Star TV.) 2005: İnce İnce Yasemince (Original publication: 1995-2003, Kanal D, Star TV ve Show TV) 2006: Sürpriz
Life-Current Events
Ayşen'le Her Sabah (Ayşen Gürler) Bir Diyar Dış Hatlar Esra Özmen'le Her Sabah (Esra Özmen) Gülbence (Gülben Ergen) (atv'ye geçti.) Güler Erkan Sizlerle (Güler Erkan) Hayırlı Akşamlar İnci Ertuğrul'la Sizin Sesiniz (İnci Ertuğrul) (Switched to Star TV.) Keşif (Yeliz Pulat) Kezban'ın Günlüğü (Kezban Yaşamul) (1999) Öykü Serter (Öykü Serter) Serap Ezgü ile Kadının Sesi (Serap Paköz) Serap Ezgü'yle Sizin Sesiniz (Serap Paköz) Tarih Sohbetleri (İsmail Yağcı) Tuluhan'la Her Sabah (Tuluhan Tekelioğlu) Yasemin Bozkurt'la Kadının Sesi (Yasemin Bozkurt) (Switched to Kanal D.) Yemek Zevki (Elif Korkmazel) 2005-2006: Zeynep'le Herşey Onda
Religious Program
1993-1998: İslam ve Toplum (Osman Ünlü) (TGRT FM has jointly published.) 1993-1998: Gönül Pınarı (Osman Ünlü) (TGRT FM has jointly published.) 1993-1999: Huzura Doğru (Orhan Karmış, Ramazan Ayvallı, Edhem Levent ve Cemil Can Bıçakçı) (TGRT FM has jointly published.) 1993-2001: Tefsir (Orhan Karmış) (TGRT FM has jointly published.) 1999-2002: Huzura Doğru (Osman Ünlü ve Cevat Babuna) (TGRT FM has jointly published.) 2002-2007: Huzura Doğru (Osman Ünlü) (TGRT EU, TGRT FM has jointly published. TGRT Haber'e geçti.)
Entertainment News
Telekritik 1996-2002: Klas Magazin (Janset) 2000-2001: Magazin Günlüğü 2000-2003: Tele Magazin (Irmak Atuk) 2002-2003: Magazin Dünyası 2003: Melike ile Birlikte 2003-2004: Euromagazin 2003-2004: Gökkuşağı 2003-2004: Hayatın Renkleri 2003-2004: Magazin Dünyası 2004-2006: Haber Magazin (Aslı Hünel) 2004-2007: Anadolu Magazin (Ela Yeşil) 2006: Magazin Forever (Eren Kalkan) (Came from atv.) 2007: AB Magazin
Child
He-Man Pembe Panter Tayo Power Rangers Mega Güç
News
1998-2007: TGRT Night News (TGRT FM has jointly published.) 1998-2007: TGRT Midday News (TGRT FM has jointly published.) 1998-2007: TGRT Morning News (TGRT FM has jointly published.) 1993-1994: Ahmet Hakan'la TGRT Main News (Ahmet Hakan) (TGRT FM has jointly published. Kanal 7'ye geçti.) 1994-1996: İnci Ertuğrul'la TGRT Main News (İnci Ertuğrul) (TGRT FM has jointly published.) 1996-1998: İnci Ertuğrul ve Jülide Ateş'le TGRT Main News (İnci Ertuğrul ve Jülide Ateş) (TGRT FM has jointly published. Kanal D'den geldi.)