TRT started television broadcasts on January 31, 1968 as an initially experimental service on VHF channel 5 in Ankara, the national capital.

[2] By 1979, TRT's television network reached the current Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus by means of overspill.

It broadcasts a short startup at 6:00 AM, where the TRT ident is shown, followed by the programme list for the day, and then the Turkish National Anthem (Independence March) is played.

At that time TRT was broadcasting old idents while maintaining the modern logo and news studio.

TRT 1 broadcasts in a large spectrum of programs ranging from news, music, entertainment, drama, sports to education and arts along with commercial breaks.