BluTV launched in 2016 in Turkey, expanded to MENA in 2018, and in 2021, partnered with Discovery+ as Discovery took a 35% stake.
Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has secured complete ownership of BluTV, the local subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service in Turkey. This acquisition follows WBD’s initial 35% stake in the platform and underscores the media giant’s commitment to global growth initiatives.
BluTV, which made its debut in 2016 in Turkey and expanded to the MENA region in 2018, has been a significant player in the streaming landscape. In 2021, WBD, prior to the merger, acquired a 35% stake and formed a partnership with BluTV. This collaboration intensified earlier in the year when BluTV added popular HBO content such as Game of Thrones and The Last Of Us, along with children’s channels Cartoon Network and Cartoonito to its offerings.
Commenting on the acquisition, Jamie Cooke, WBD’s General Manager overseeing Turkey, the Middle East and CEE, said: “Turkey has been an important investment territory for us for over 20 years. The acquisition of BluTV brings Turkey’s first local SVOD player into our portfolio. The combination of compelling Turkish content and a broad range of the best international series and shows from WBD is an unbeatable recipe to be locally relevant and successful.”
Deniz Sasmaz Oflaz, CEO of BluTV, said: “As BluTV, we are very happy that our strategic partnership with Discovery Inc., which started in 2021, has resulted in us becoming one of the Warner Bros. Discovery brands today. As Turkey’s leading local subscription video platform, we are proud that our steady growth since day one has made us a part of one of the largest media companies in the world.”
