Turkish media mogul Turgay Ciner exited the media industry after selling Ciner Media Holding, which includes prominent outlets HaberTürk, Show TV and Bloomberg HT, to Can Holding, a group known for its investments in education and culture, T24 news website reported on Monday.
The deal ends Ciner’s 22-year presence in Turkish media and reflects his conglomerate Park Holding’s decision to focus exclusively on mining, its primary business. Ciner Media Holding’s new owner, Can Holding, will manage the group’s media operations through its chairman, Kenan Tekdağ, following regulatory approval.
Park Holding announced the sale in a statement, saying it had decided to exit the media sector to concentrate on becoming a global leader in the mining industry. “We believe this transfer will bring a fresh perspective and strength to Turkey’s media landscape,” the company said.
Can Holding, which owns İstanbul Bilgi University and Doğa Schools, praised Park Holding for its collaboration, adding that Tekdağ would continue to lead Ciner Media’s operations as its sole authority. The group framed the acquisition as part of its broader commitment to investments in culture and education.
Ciner Media Holding is one of Turkey’s leading media companies, overseeing widely watched TV channels, a prominent online news portal and other outlets. The group was established in 2002 when Turgay Ciner diversified his business empire, originally founded in 1978 and spanning sectors like mining, energy, and chemicals.
The sale comes amid growing concerns over media concentration in Turkey, where most major outlets are owned by conglomerates with ties to the government. A report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the IPS Communication Foundation found that nine of the 10 most-watched TV channels and seven of the 10 most-visited news websites in Turkey are owned by pro-government entities.
Turkey’s highly concentrated media ownership landscape has drawn international criticism for stifling press freedom. The RSF-led Media Ownership Monitor (MOM) project highlighted that conglomerates such as Demirören, Kalyon and Albayrak dominate the sector, leveraging their media assets to support the government’s agenda.
Observers say the transfer of Ciner Media to Can Holding will continue the trend of media consolidation under pro-government business groups.