Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has officially launched its global streaming platform Max in Turkey, replacing its local service BluTV as of 15th April. The company says this move reflects a stronger commitment to investing in Turkish content and offering a broader mix of local and international programming to Turkish viewers.
In a statement, the company confirmed that current BluTV subscribers in Turkey can now log in to Max, which comes with improved features and a significantly larger library of titles. “Existing direct subscribers in Türkiye can sign in to the advanced global platform with enhanced features and functionality to watch thousands more hours and hundreds more titles than previously available on BluTV,” WBD said.
The launch brings new seasons of global hits like The Last of Us and The Handmaid’s Tale to the platform, both of which premiere today. But the spotlight is also on new Turkish originals, which were introduced during a launch event. These include Anatomy of Chaos, a revenge-driven corruption drama, Jasmin, a story about a young woman living between extremes, and Feride, an adult animated series about a modern woman’s life in Istanbul. These titles will soon be available on Max in Turkey, joining previously announced Turkish series such as the historical fantasy First Göktürk, season three of the satire Prince, and season three of the crime drama Çekiç ve Gül: Bir Behzat Ç. Hikayesi.
Jamie Cooke, General Manager for Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Turkey at WBD, said the company is blending the best of BluTV’s local content with WBD’s global catalog to provide more value to Turkish subscribers. “We are bringing together the successful BluTV local content with the global [WBD] content for a broader offering” designed to enable continued subscriber growth and increased engagement, he told The Hollywood Reporter. “And we are committed to increased spending on Turkish original productions long term.”
While no specific budget was disclosed, Cooke explained that the focus is on creating the right amount and balance of originals for the Turkish market, with plans to also license some of this content to other WBD platforms. He noted that Turkish stories perform well not just in Turkey, but also in regions like the Middle East, Latin America, and increasingly in Central and Eastern Europe.
Deniz Şaşmaz Oflaz, Vice President of Local Originals, Local Channels, and Streaming Operations Lead for Turkey at WBD, said, “The country has a vibrant storytelling tradition and a thriving entertainment industry. With Max, we are not only bringing our world-class content to Turkish audiences, we are also increasing our investment in local talent and productions that celebrate Türkiye’s unique culture and stories.” She added, “It’s very important to assure our loyal fan and subscriber base that our editorial will not drastically change.”
Global titles from HBO and Max have already found a strong fan base in Turkey. Şaşmaz Oflaz pointed out that shows like The Last of Us and Game of Thrones continue to perform well, while classic series such as The Sopranos and Sex and the City are still being rewatched by subscribers. She also mentioned that The White Lotus is one of the most popular current series, and major franchises like Harry Potter are frequently streamed.
Cooke praised Turkey’s long-standing storytelling tradition and expressed excitement about what’s ahead. “Türkiye has an incredibly rich storytelling heritage, and with Max, we are delivering a premium streaming experience that combines the best of global and local content,” he said.
One of the biggest upcoming Turkish originals on Max is First Göktürk, which explores the early history of the Turks in an epic fantasy style. Şaşmaz Oflaz described it as the streamer’s largest period drama to date and said it offers a new angle on Turkish history, delivered in a way that’s engaging and cinematic. “It’s our biggest period drama and one of the first shows that relates to Turkish history, the story of Turks,” she said. “But we’re not telling the story educationally, but in a Western way of storytelling. So, we will be watching something more in the vein of Kingdom of Heaven and The Lord of the Rings.”
She expressed hopes that First Göktürk could become a long-running franchise with spin-offs, similar to Game of Thrones. “It’s a bit similar to Game of Thrones, where, once you are successful, you can spin off projects out of it. And I think it’s very important and significant for us as Max Turkey to be able to tell the story of Turkish people because that’s something that we don’t see a lot on screen. That is very local and at the same time also feels very global.”
Other Turkish original shows coming to Max include Prince, a quirky comedy about the youngest and least appreciated royal son of a fictional kingdom; Behzat Ç., a hard-hitting crime drama set in Ankara; Anatomy of Chaos, a tense drama about a crime boss and a young doctor joining forces against a corrupt system; Jasmin, a story of a woman living between luxury and pain while secretly saving money for a heart transplant; and Feride, an animated series about a woman navigating life’s challenges in Istanbul with humor and resilience.