Eutelsat seeks to suspend the broadcasting of Kurdish TV channels

Eutelsat has taken action to suspend the broadcasting of Kurdish television channels Ronahi TV, NewsChannel and Sterk TV on Turkey's demand.

French satellite company Eutelsat has sent an “urgent notice” to the contracted satellite capacity Uplink that provides service for Ronahi TV, NewsChannel and Sterk TV for the suspension of the mentioned channels on Turkey's demand.

In the notice, Eutelsat stated that they have received a formal demand from the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) of Turkey to suspend the broadcasting of said channels on the grounds that these “violate the provision of European conventions and the laws of Republic of Turkey”.

Eutelsat said: “Accordingly, we officially request that you remove the television channels Sterk TV and Ronahi TV from the multiplex you operate in accordance with our agreement”.

Eutelsat has also sent a verbal notice to NewsChannel regarding the suspension of the channel's broadcasting.

In September 2016, Eutelsat started to remove Kurdish channels from Hotbird satellite, again on Turkish RTÜK's demand, and suspended the broadcasting of Newroz TV and Med Nuçe TV unlawfully despite the French courts' decisions in favour of the channels.