First Radio Broadcast in Türkiye

The first radio broadcasting experiments in Türkiye began in 1921 in Istanbul; the first public radio trial broadcast was conducted in 1923, and regular broadcasts commenced on 6 May 1927 under the name "Istanbul Radio". This broadcast is recognized as the beginning of radio broadcasting in Türkiye.

The first radio broadcast on 6 May 1927 was transmitted from the basement of the Sirkeci Grand Post Office building in Istanbul. Due to the limited number of radio receivers at the time, the broadcast was made audible to the public through a loudspeaker placed at the post office entrance. Broadcasts began with the announcement "Muhterem samiin" (dear listeners) and consisted of two segments: spoken word and music. Spoken word segments typically featured stock and bond news from the Anadolu Agency, while music segments featured Turkish art music. Initially lasting five hours per day, the broadcasts gradually expanded both in content and reach.

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Following the initial broadcasts, the Turkish Telegraph and Telephone Company Ltd. was established on 8 September 1927 and began operating Istanbul Radio. In November of the same year, Ankara Radio commenced broadcasting. However, due to financial difficulties, the company’s contract was not renewed in 1936, and both Istanbul and Ankara Radio were transferred to the PTT. This institution increased transmitter power to expand broadcasts and improve technical infrastructure. Ankara Radio was officially inaugurated in 1938, while Istanbul Radio resumed broadcasting in 1949 from its new building in Harbiye.

The launch of İzmir Radio in 1950 expanded the radio network across Türkiye. From the 1960s onward, provincial radio stations were established in various cities. The Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT), established on 1 May 1964, took over all radio broadcasts and transitioned the system to public broadcasting. TRT’s autonomous and impartial structure was safeguarded in the 1972 and 1982 constitutions. With the rise of private television stations in the 1980s, a constitutional amendment in 1993 opened the way for private radio broadcasting. Thus, the state monopoly ended and private enterprises began operations in the radio sector.

UNESCO declared 13 February as "World Radio Day" in 2011. Türkiye, with approximately 1000 radio stations, has become one of the countries with the most extensive radio broadcasting networks in Europe.