Halit Mecit Kıvanç (18 February 1925 – 25 October 2022) was a Turkish journalist writer radio and television presenter. Recognized as one of the pioneers of modern radio and television broadcasting in Türkiye Kıvanç spent decades working in both the press and sports broadcasting fields and played a significant role in hosting news entertainment and sports programs during the period when television and radio became widespread.

Halit Kıvanç Infographic (Anadolu Agency)

Early Life and Education

Halit Mecit Kıvanç was born on 18 February 1925 in the Fatih district of Istanbul. His father was İsmail Bey and his mother was Leman Hanım. The eldest of five siblings Kıvanç completed his primary education at Fatih Primary School and his secondary and high school education at Pertevniyal High School. During his student years Kıvanç developed an interest in literature and humor and began writing articles for the magazines Akbaba and Şut while still a student.

After high school Kıvanç enrolled at the Faculty of Law of Istanbul University and graduated in 1946. Shortly after graduation he served as a judge for about three months in the Kozluk district of Siirt. However he soon abandoned the judiciary profession and turned to journalism. Although he registered as a trainee lawyer at the Istanbul Bar Association in 1950 he withdrew his registration two years later citing that he did not practice law. After this brief experience in law Kıvanç fully devoted himself to journalism and writing and began his professional career in the press during the mid-1940s.

Journalism and Publishing Career

Halit Kıvanç began working in various Turkish newspapers starting in 1944. He served as secretary reporter and columnist for newspapers such as İstanbul Ekspres Son Saat Tan Milliyet Yeni İstanbul Tercüman and Güneş.

In 1953 Kıvanç co-founded Türkiye Spor together with Halit Talayer and Alp Zirek. This was Türkiye’s first daily sports newspaper and was regarded as a significant innovation in Turkish sports journalism quickly becoming a model publication in the field.

In addition to his journalism career Kıvanç spent a period in the mid-1950s in England where he worked for approximately one year at the British broadcasting organization BBC. During his time at the BBC he had the opportunity to closely observe international broadcasting standards. Upon returning to Türkiye he continued both his journalism and broadcasting work. In the 1950s he worked as an assistant to Abdi İpekçi at the newspaper Milliyet alongside some of the leading journalists of the era.

From the beginning of his journalism career Kıvanç attracted attention with both his humorous and sports writings. He became the first journalist to interview the Brazilian footballer Pelé. This interview received coverage in the international press and established Kıvanç as a well-known sports reporter in Türkiye. He is also recorded as the first Turkish and Muslim journalist to interview the Pope. During an interview in Italy Kıvanç met with the Pope an event that received extensive coverage in the foreign press.

Halit Kıvanç’s Journalism Years (Anadolu Agency)

Television and Radio Work

In 1955 Kıvanç began working at TRT Radio where he served for many years as a broadcaster and program host. When describing his acceptance into TRT Kıvanç referred to Istanbul Radio as his “first love” in life.

From 1956 onward he hosted football matches Olympic events and entertainment and competition programs on radio and from 1969 onward on television.

Kıvanç entered broadcasting history as the first Turkish broadcaster to present the FIFA World Cup on television and he narrated ten World Cup finals via both radio and television. During the 1966 World Cup final in England he delivered a live broadcast to TRT via telephone from the press tribune in London demonstrating a remarkable achievement given the limited technical resources of the time.

For many years Kıvanç also hosted cultural artistic musical and entertainment programs on TRT and participated in children’s events. He served for many years as the traditional host of the 23 April National Sovereignty and Children’s Day celebrations. He also appeared in the children’s program Susam Sokağı which began broadcasting in Türkiye in 1989. Additionally he had a brief acting experience in the 1971 film Maskeli Üçler.

Kıvanç retired from match commentary in 1983 after the Presidential Cup final. He handed over his microphone to young broadcaster İlker Yasin during a live broadcast marking the end of his sports broadcasting career.

From the 1980s onward he presented various programs on television and radio. He reached audiences through programs such as “Halit Kıvanç ile Ustalar” on NTV television “Mikrofonda Halit Kıvanç” on NTV Radio and “Futbol Bir Aşk” on NTV Spor.

Halit Kıvanç’s Hosting Years (Anadolu Agency)

Works and Publications

In addition to his journalism Kıvanç also documented his experiences in television and broadcasting through written works. His first book Ve Allah Gazeteciyi Yarattı was published in 1959 and his final book Ağlama Palyaço Makyajın Bozulur reached readers in 2006.

In addition to these he wrote books such as Telesafir Gülmek Serbest Dostlar Gool Diye Diye Hadi Anlat Bakalım Futbol Bir Aşk and 333 Fıkra in which he recorded his memoirs professional experiences and observations on Turkish sports culture.

Kıvanç also appeared on vinyl recordings of his football commentary performances between 1965 and 1974. In 1974 he narrated the Cyprus Peace Operation on the album Kıbrıs 74 in his own voice.

Halit Kıvanç (Anadolu Agency)

Books

• Ve Allah Gazeteciyi Yarattı (1959). Istanbul: İstanbul Matbaası.
• Kazulet Hanım’ın Minisi (1968). Co-authored with Altan Erbulak. Istanbul: Altın Kitaplar.
• Mikrofonunu Kordonuna Göre Uzat (1977). Istanbul: Meta Yayınları.
• Beckenbauer Futbol Okulu (1977). Translation. Istanbul: Kelebek Yayınları.
• Gülmece Güldürmece (1978). First edition. Istanbul: Kelebek Çocuk Kitapları.
• Ve Karşınızda Halit Kıvanç (1979). First edition. Istanbul: Milliyet Yayınları; second edition Karacan Yayınları (1980).
• Gelin Yarışalım (1982). Istanbul: Kelebek Yayınları (Kelebek Çocuk Kitapları Series).
• Halit Kıvanç Anlatıyor: Üç Yüz Otuz Üç Fıkra (1982). Istanbul: Karacan Yayınları.
• Gool Diye Diye (1983). Istanbul: Hürriyet Yayınları.
• Hadi Anlat Bakalım – Anılar 1 (1998). Third edition. Istanbul: Yorum Kitapları.
• Bulutlarla Yarışan Kadın: Halit Kıvanç Sabiha Gökçen’le Söyleşiyor (1998). Istanbul: Yapı Kredi Yayınları.
• Çok Affedersiniz Ama... (1999). Istanbul: Aksoy Yayıncılık.
• Telesafir: Bizde TV Böyle Başladı (2002). Istanbul: Remzi Kitabevi.
• Kupaların Kupası: Dünya Kupası 1930’dan 2002’ye (2002). Istanbul: Türkiye İş Bankası Kültür Yayınları.
• Futbol! Bir Aşk... (2004). Istanbul: İletişim Yayınları.
• Ağlama Palyaço Makyajın Bozulur: Müjdat Gezen Kitabı (2006). Istanbul: Türkiye İş Bankası Kültür Yayınları.

Halit Kıvanç’s Funeral (Anadolu Agency)

Death and Legacy

Halit Kıvanç died in Istanbul on 25 October 2022 at the age of 97. His son the writer Ümit Kıvanç announced his father’s death via social media.

A ceremony was first held at the headquarters of the Turkish Sports Writers Association in Levent followed by a funeral prayer at Zincirlikuyu Camii after which he was buried at Zincirlikuyu Cemetery.

Throughout his life Kıvanç won over a thousand awards in competitions organized by organizations such as the Turkish Journalists Association and the Turkish Sports Writers Association. In 2005 he celebrated his 50th anniversary in broadcasting with a jubilee event and was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Altın Koza Film Festival. He was also honored by the Turkish National Olympic Committee with the “Career Grand Prize.”

Halit Kıvanç is remembered as a figure who participated in the institutionalization of radio and television broadcasting in Türkiye and contributed to the formation of modern broadcasting through his professional approach.