Dr. Lecturer Hale Yaylalı, evaluating the launch of TRT's new digital platform 'tabii' from the perspective of public broadcasting, stated that this platform is important for the presence and position of 'public service' broadcasting in Turkey within the digital world. Yaylalı noted that the market share global production companies have achieved worldwide has led all television broadcasters to produce online content, and stated that changing viewing habits are also transforming broadcasting in Turkey. Yaylalı pointed out the increasing importance of public broadcasters using new digital platforms in a manner consistent with their public duty, and said that TRT has made a global move with its digital platform 'tabii'.
TRT made a global move with its digital platform, tabii.
Dr. Lecturer Hale Yaylalı from Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Communication, Department of Radio, Television and Cinema, evaluated the importance of TRT's new digital platform 'tabii' starting its broadcast life from the perspective of public broadcasting.
"tabii is important for the presence of public service broadcasting in the digital world"
Dr. Lecturer Hale Yaylalı, evaluating the launch of TRT's new digital platform 'tabii' as an international broadcasting platform, said, "TRT's 'tabii', structured with the motto 'Stories That Unite Us' to make Turkey's stories and voice heard to the world, is important for the presence and position of 'public service' broadcasting in Turkey within the digital world."
"Radio and television broadcasting is accepted to have an indispensable role in enabling societal demands to achieve public visibility," said Yaylalı, adding that this approach is based on the view that broadcasting, which is vital for the functioning of democratic processes, cannot be subjected to the profit-driven operations of the free market.
"Changes bring discussions on restructuring in public service broadcasting"
Yaylalı stated that in public broadcasting, the ownership structure directly affects broadcast content, saying, "Public service broadcasting institutions, which can be defined as the regulation of radio and television channels not as private goods but as public goods, are national cultural institutions obligated to develop public information, culture, education, and entertainment resources. However, technological, social, and economic changes also bring discussions on renewal and restructuring for public service broadcasters to maintain their existence."
"Public service broadcasters following their audience is a prerequisite"
Yaylalı stated that the internet becoming an area where media messages can be carried has not only diversified the production and distribution processes of television broadcasting but also affected viewing practices, saying, "With features like content being transportable over the internet, digitally storable, and instantly delivered to the audience, online broadcasting and multimedia content broadcasting have also shifted to another point. The role of public service broadcasting in new digital services is still being debated. Public service broadcasters argue that they have the right and obligation to be present on all electronic media platforms and to provide service to audiences actively using these new platforms. On the other hand, digital media usage has largely transformed from mass communication to on-demand individual usage. For this, it emerges as a prerequisite for public service broadcasters to follow their own audience. Therefore, the latest battleground for public service broadcasters is defined as interaction and more program provision. It is gaining importance that new digital platforms, as much as their analog radio-television broadcasts, are used in harmony with their public duty."
"Changing viewing habits are also transforming broadcasting in Turkey"
Yaylalı noted that one of the most important goals of public service broadcasting institutions today is to reach audience groups differentiated by more specific characteristics through a greater number of thematic channels and platforms, saying, "At this point, it can be said that TRT, Turkey's public broadcasting institution, has an important position and duty in terms of both its digital broadcasting strategies and its use of new media to reach audience groups with different tastes, needs, and demands. This is because screens have diversified with computers, tablets, and mobile phones, in addition to televisions. With easier access to the internet, audience demands and viewing habits have also changed. Naturally, this change is transforming broadcasting in Turkey as much as it is transforming broadcasting worldwide. A study conducted by a platform in 2017 with 37,056 people revealed that 77% of Turks watch movies and TV series on mobile devices not only at home but also while commuting, traveling on buses or planes. The market share global production companies have achieved worldwide is also directing all television broadcasters to produce online content."
"TRT made a global move with tabii"
Emphasizing that the increasing digitalization and 'globalization-localization' combinations in broadcasting, along with today's conditions, attribute an important position to TRT, Turkey's public broadcasting institution, Yaylalı concluded her words as follows:
"TRT, which has conceptualized digital and new media fields as 'a new broadcasting medium' for many years and uses new media tools for effective and interactive communication with its audience, has made a global move with its digital platform 'tabii'. It is clearly seen at this point that TRT, stated to be acting with the idea that 'a fairer world is also possible in the digital realm', has new duties and an important position in reaching its users who can create their own options through the changes brought by convergence, towards its public broadcasting goals of diversity, pluralism, and polyphony."