Turkey's reality dating shows see spike in complaints, ratings
Turkey’s matchmaking reality shows have come under scrutiny by the country’s media watchdog amid increasing complaints, but their unending scandals continue to raise their ratings.
Turkey’s matchmaking reality shows, which have long kept viewers glued to television screens and made celebrities out of their hosts, have led to 10,691 complaints in a year's time, spurring the Higher Board of Radio and Television (RTUK) into action. In June alone, the media watchdog slapped fines on the Star, Fox, Kanal D, ATV and Flash TV channels. It had earlier held a meeting with TV producers and managers and given them verbal warnings. The producers argued that the high number of complaints was because of the big audiences the shows attract.
The complaints have reached all the way to the offices of the presidency and the prime minister. Citizens began to lodge them not only through the RTUK’s hotline, but also with parliament’s Petition Commission. In response to an information request by the commission, the RTUK said it had issued 28 warnings and 40 fines involving seven programs.
