Acun Ilıcalı, born Ali Acun Ilıcalı on May 29, 1969, is a Turkish television producer, presenter, media executive, and businessman. He is known for producing and presenting television programs including Acun Firarda, Fear Factor, Var Mısın Yok Musun, Survivor Türkiye, Yetenek Sizsiniz Türkiye, and O Ses Türkiye. He founded Acunmedya in 2004 and subsequently acquired the television channel TV8, launched TV8,5, and established the digital streaming service Exxen. His business activities have expanded into international television production, sports broadcasting, and football club ownership. He acquired English football club Hull City in 2022 and invested in Slovenian club NK Maribor. Under his ownership, Hull City secured promotion to the Premier League in May 2026.

Early Life and Education

Acun Ilıcalı, whose full name is Ali Acun Ilıcalı, was born on May 29, 1969, in Edirne, Turkey. His father was Ergün Ilıcalı, and his mother was İlknur Ilıcalı. His family originated from the Ilıca district of Erzurum. He has an older brother, Ömer Cenker Ilıcalı.

He spent his early childhood in Edirne and attended İstiklal Primary School. His family later moved to Istanbul, where he continued his education at Kadıköy Maarif College, subsequently renamed Kadıköy Anatolian High School.

After completing secondary school, he enrolled at Istanbul University. However, he left university before graduating and began pursuing business activities.

Early Adulthood and Family Tragedies

In 1988, Acun Ilıcalı married Seda Başbuğ. Their daughter, Banu Ilıcalı, was born in 1989.

In 1990, his parents, İlknur Ilıcalı and Ergün Ilıcalı, died in a road accident near Balıkesir. His infant daughter Banu was also seriously injured in the accident but survived.

Following the deaths of his parents, Ilıcalı experienced financial and personal difficulties. His first marriage ended in divorce in 1993.

In 1994, he was involved in a motorcycle accident on Bağdat Avenue in Istanbul. A friend traveling with him died, while Ilıcalı suffered serious injuries and underwent surgery on his left arm.

Before establishing his television career, he attempted several commercial ventures. In 1995, he opened a store selling jeans, but the business operated for only a relatively short period.

Beginning His Television Career

Acun Ilıcalı entered the television industry through sports journalism. Through a personal acquaintance, he met İrfan Şahin, an executive associated with Show TV. He was subsequently given an opportunity to work as a trainee reporter under sports director İlker Yasin.

Although he supported Fenerbahçe, his initial reporting assignment involved covering rival football club Beşiktaş. He began interviewing football players and covering sporting events before joining the team of television sports journalist Şansal Büyüka.

During the 1990s, Ilıcalı worked as a reporter for Televole, a television program combining sports coverage with entertainment and celebrity interviews. His assignments eventually expanded beyond football reporting.

He began traveling to different countries and producing short travel reports for the program. These segments featured local customs, people, tourist destinations, and unusual experiences encountered during his journeys.

Acun Firarda and Television Presenting

In 2002, Acun Ilıcalı's travel segments developed into a separate television program titled Acun Firarda. The series followed Ilıcalı as he visited countries around the world, introducing audiences to different cultures, local communities, and everyday experiences.

The program combined travel journalism with informal interviews and entertainment. Ilıcalı served as its presenter and traveled extensively to film new episodes.

Acun Firarda marked his transition from sports reporter to television presenter. Its format allowed him to develop programs built around his own presenting style and production ideas.

During the same period, he also worked on television projects including Dokun Bana and Biri Bizi Gözetliyor.

Founding Acunmedya

In 2004, Acun Ilıcalı established Acunmedya, a television production company initially focused on entertainment and reality programming for Turkish broadcasters.

The company began producing local adaptations of international television formats. Its productions included Fear Factor, Survivor Türkiye, Var Mısın Yok Musun, Yetenek Sizsiniz Türkiye, Yok Böyle Dans, Ninja Warrior Türkiye, Rising Star Türkiye, O Ses Türkiye, and İşte Benim Stilim.

Depending on the format, Ilıcalı served as producer, presenter, or member of the judging panel. Acunmedya managed contestant selection, filming, production crews, and the broadcasting requirements of its programs.

In 2005, at the age of 36, Ilıcalı appeared among Turkey's leading individual taxpayers. His television production activities had become the principal focus of his business career.

He also participated in Show TV's social responsibility campaign 81 İl 81 Okul, which collected donations to support educational facilities and school needs across Turkey.

Survivor Türkiye and Reality Television

One of Acun Ilıcalı's longest-running television projects has been Survivor Türkiye, the Turkish adaptation of the international Survivor reality competition format.

Different seasons were produced under titles such as Survivor Aslanlar-Kanaryalar, Survivor Türkiye-Yunanistan, Survivor Kızlar-Erkekler, and Survivor Ünlüler-Gönüllüler. The programs brought together contestants competing in physical challenges and elimination rounds, often in remote outdoor locations.

Production in the Dominican Republic required extensive logistical arrangements involving filming crews, transportation, accommodation, competition areas, and broadcast equipment. Acunmedya subsequently used its international production infrastructure for other entertainment projects.

Another long-running project was Var Mısın Yok Musun, the Turkish adaptation of Deal or No Deal. The program became a regular part of Turkish prime-time television during the second half of the 2000s, with Ilıcalı serving as its presenter.

Acunmedya also produced Yetenek Sizsiniz Türkiye, adapted from the Got Talent format, and O Ses Türkiye, the Turkish version of The Voice. These programs involved audition rounds, judging panels, and competitions among selected performers.

Between 2007 and 2008, Ilıcalı produced Yoksa Rüya Mı?, presented by journalist Uğur Dündar. In 2008, he prepared the musical competition Söyle Söyleyebilirsen, presented by Behzat Uygur. The program returned to television in 2014 on TV8, hosted by singer Murat Dalkılıç.

Acquisition of TV8

On November 14, 2013, Acun Ilıcalı announced that he had reached an agreement to purchase TV8, a Turkish television channel previously owned by businessman Mehmet Nazif Günal.

Following completion of the acquisition, the channel became part of Acunmedya. Its broadcasting schedule was reorganized around entertainment, reality competitions, lifestyle programming, and sports-related content.

In 2014, several Acunmedya productions previously broadcast on Star TV moved to TV8. The channel also introduced new programs, including Ninja Warrior Türkiye, Para Bende, Hülya Avşar Show, Arda'nın Mutfağı, Aileler Yarışıyor, Ver Fırına, Akademi, and Ütopya.

During the following years, programs including Survivor Türkiye, O Ses Türkiye, Rising Star Türkiye, İşte Benim Stilim, and MasterChef Türkiye formed part of TV8's broadcasting schedule.

The acquisition changed Ilıcalı's position in the Turkish television industry. Having previously supplied programs to broadcasters, he now operated a television channel that distributed content produced by his own company and outside production teams.

TV8,5 and the Launch of Exxen

On October 7, 2016, Acunmedya launched TV8,5, a television channel focused primarily on entertainment and sports programming.

On January 1, 2021, Acun Ilıcalı launched Exxen, a subscription-based digital streaming platform offering original series, entertainment programs, documentaries, and sports content.

Exxen introduced original productions alongside programs developed by Acunmedya and other production companies. The platform also acquired broadcasting rights for international sporting competitions, including European club football tournaments during certain licensing periods.

The introduction of Exxen expanded Acunmedya's activities from conventional television broadcasting into subscription-based online content distribution.

In 2021, the company also collaborated with Nişantaşı University to establish Acunmedya Academy. The academy developed educational programs in television production, digital media, gastronomy, and software-related subjects.

Acquisition of Hull City

In January 2022, Acun Ilıcalı completed the acquisition of Hull City, an English professional football club based in Kingston upon Hull. The club was competing in the EFL Championship, the second division of English football.

Following the takeover, Ilıcalı became the club's owner and chairman. His administration introduced changes to player recruitment, coaching appointments, commercial operations, and relations with supporters.

The club continued competing in the Championship while pursuing promotion to the Premier League. During his ownership, Hull City recruited players from several European football markets, including Turkey, and changed its managerial staff as part of its sporting development.

The 2025–26 season brought a change in the club's league position under head coach Sergej Jakirović. Hull City finished sixth in the Championship, qualifying for the promotion play-offs.

The team defeated Millwall in the play-off semi-finals and advanced to the final against Middlesbrough at Wembley Stadium on May 23, 2026.

Hull City won the final 1–0 after Oli McBurnie scored the winning goal in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time. The result secured promotion to the Premier League for the 2026–27 season, ending the club's nine-year absence from England's top division.

The promotion was Hull City's first return to the Premier League under Acun Ilıcalı's ownership. The club entered the 2026–27 season as a Premier League participant, with Ilıcalı continuing as its owner and chairman.

Other European Football Investments

Acun Ilıcalı expanded his involvement in European football through investments beyond England.

In 2023, Acunmedya acquired a majority interest in Irish football club Shelbourne FC. The investment was intended to support the club's sporting and commercial operations, but the partnership ended later that year.

Ilıcalı subsequently began discussions concerning an investment in Slovenian football club NK Maribor, which competes in Slovenia's top football division.

In 2024, Acunmedya acquired a majority stake in Športno Poslovni Center Ljudski Vrt, the commercial company associated with NK Maribor. Through this transaction, Ilıcalı became involved in the club's management and business operations.

The investment added Slovenian football to his portfolio of international sports activities alongside Hull City.

SPORT1 Investment in Germany

In 2024, Acun Ilıcalı expanded his media business into Germany through Acunmedya's acquisition of a 50 percent stake in Sport1 Medien AG, a company associated with the SPORT1 broadcasting and digital media businesses.

The transaction involved the Germany-based Highlight Communications group and provided a framework for distributing Acunmedya entertainment formats in the German market.

Programs associated with Acunmedya, including Exatlon, Survivor, MasterChef, My Style Rocks, and Power of Love, formed part of the company's international production and broadcasting strategy.

The SPORT1 transaction extended Acunmedya's operations beyond Turkish-language television and its existing international production agreements.

Fenerbahçe Vice Presidency

A longtime supporter of Fenerbahçe, Acun Ilıcalı entered the club's administration in June 2024.

On June 9, 2024, he joined the board of directors following the club's presidential election, serving under chairman Ali Koç. He was appointed vice president and participated in matters concerning football operations and international relations.

On June 11, 2025, Ilıcalı announced his resignation from the Fenerbahçe board of directors and his vice-presidential position.

His departure ended his formal management role at Fenerbahçe, while he continued his football investment activities through Hull City and NK Maribor.

Personal Life and Marriages

Acun Ilıcalı has married four times and has four daughters.

His first marriage was to Seda Başbuğ in 1988. Their daughter, Banu Ilıcalı, was born in 1989. The couple divorced in 1993.

In 2003, he married Zeynep Yılmaz. They had two daughters, Leyla Ilıcalı, born in 2004, and Yasemin Ilıcalı, born in 2007. The couple divorced by mutual agreement on July 12, 2016.

He also had a relationship with television personality Şeyma Subaşı. Their daughter, Melisa Ilıcalı, was born in 2013. Ilıcalı and Subaşı married on September 18, 2017, at the Turkish Consulate General in Marseille, France. Their marriage ended in divorce on November 26, 2018.

On September 4, 2024, Acun Ilıcalı married Ayça Çağla Altunkaya at the Esma Sultan Mansion in Ortaköy, Istanbul, following a relationship of several years.

His four daughters are Banu Ilıcalı, Leyla Ilıcalı, Yasemin Ilıcalı, and Melisa Ilıcalı.

Media and Sports Activities in 2026

As of 2026, Acun Ilıcalı continues to operate in television production, broadcasting, digital entertainment, and football through Acunmedya and associated businesses.

His Turkish media operations include TV8, TV8,5, and Exxen. Acunmedya also produces television formats for international markets, including countries in Europe and Latin America.

His sports portfolio includes Hull City and his investment in NK Maribor. Hull City's promotion to the Premier League on May 23, 2026, brought the English club into the country's top football division for the first time since the 2016–17 season.

Selected Awards and Honors

2007 – Crystal Seagull Award (Kristal Martı Ödülü), Kadıköy Maarif College and Anatolian High School Alumni Association
Golden Bees Awards (Altın Arılar Ödülleri) – Best Male Presenter

Film and Television Acting Appearances

2020 – Karakomik Filmler 2 (Himself; film)
2011 – Pis Yedili (Himself; television series)
2010 – Sinyora Enrica ile İtalyan Olmak (Guest appearance; film)
2009 – Adab-ı Muaşeret (Guest appearance; film)
2005 – Dikkat Şahan Çıkabilir (Guest appearance; television program)
2004–2007 – Avrupa Yakası (Himself; guest appearance)
2002 – Mumya Firarda (Feature film)
2001 – Tatlı Hayat (Guest appearance; television series)

Major Television Programs

Televole – Reporter
Acun Firarda – Presenter
Fear Factor – Producer / Presenter
Survivor Türkiye – Producer / Presenter
Var Mısın Yok Musun – Producer / Presenter
Yetenek Sizsiniz Türkiye – Producer / Judge
O Ses Türkiye – Producer / Presenter / Judge
Yok Böyle Dans – Producer
Ninja Warrior Türkiye – Producer
Rising Star Türkiye – Producer
İşte Benim Stilim – Producer
MasterChef Türkiye – Producer

Source: Biyografiler.com