The record $3.3 billion fine is at the heart of a dispute between the government and Dogan Yayin, which says it is being unfairly targeted as a result of critical coverage of Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's adminstration.
The European Union, which Turkey wants to join, has also criticised the penalty over freedom of expression concerns. However, the government says it is purely a technical tax matter and not politically motivated.
The tax fine, which is larger than the combined market value of Dogan Yayin and the firm's parent company Dogan Holding, threatens the survival of the Dogan media group. Shares in Dogan Yayin were up 2.8% in early trade, while Dogan Holding rose 2.9%.
The interim court decision came after Dogan said on Friday it was seeking new partners or would sell part or all of its subsidiaries in the face of the record fine. The latest tax court ruling, announced by Dogan in a statement to the stock exchange, applies to a court challenge made by Dogan Yayin units Dogan TV Holding and Alp Gorsel Iletisim Hizmetleri.
Last week Dogan Yayin said it was trying to reach a settlement with authorities over the tax fine.
Turkish courts have already imposed an injunction on the bank accounts and some assets of Dogan units. The tax row has drawn parallels with Russia's treatment of oil giant Yukos, which was crippled by a huge tax bill its owners said was politically motivated.
Dogan has foreign partners including Time Warner and Germany's Axel Springer.
(EurActiv with Reuters.)
