Samanyolu TV

Samanyolu TV was an international Turkish language TV station with its headquarters in Istanbul.

The channel is known for its closeness to Fethullah Gülen, the leader of the Gülen movement. Samanyolu TV was previously owned by Yayıncılık A.Ş. Yayıncılık A.Ş. is a media company that operates radio and television broadcasting, publication and distribution of newspapers. The first satellite service for Samanyolu TV was aired towards Central Asia. Samanyolu TV proceeded into North America by 1999, with Türksat as its new mainstream satellite operator. Samanyolu TV later created two official websites for people of Turkish origin, both North American audiences, and Turkish audiences. The two websites also included online streaming (Canlı Yayın) and social networks such as Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube in 2005–2013.

On 18 September 2014, Samanyolu TV merged into the 16:9 HD and SD format in conjunction with Show TV and Star TV switching frequencies from Türksat 4A.

In June 2015, Samanyolu Yayıncılık A.Ş. announced that the closure of Samanyolu TV, along with its news channel, Samanyolu Haber, will occur in the early hours of 1 May 2016, due to alleged links with the Gülen movement (and later due to the 2016 Turkish coup d’état attempt). Both channels' licenses will be revoked completely. For that, some employees at Samanyolu TV left. The broadcasting equipment was moved to their homes. Samanyolu TV sold its buildings in Ankara and left its buildings in Çamlıca and rented a studio in Germany.

On 30 April 2016, Samanyolu TV's license was revoked and the channel closed by the Radio and Television Supreme Council due to alleged links with the Gülen movement following the coup d'état attempt. Its HD simulcast continued to operate until 26 July 2016, in which it ceased broadcasting completely.

After the coup d’état attempt, Samanyolu TV will not return as a linear television channel. However, its website, ''Samanyolu.tv'' is still available for news. Provided by Wikipedia