Warner Bros. Discovery said on Tuesday that its streaming service Max will launch in Turkey on April 15 as streamer BluTV, which it acquired at the end of 2023, “will evolve into Max, an advanced global platform with enhanced features and functionality, leveraging BluTV’s local storytelling power and combining it with an even richer lineup of content.” It reiterated that it will increase its investment in local productions.
Turkey becomes the 77th Max territory and “marks a significant moment in the globalization of WBD’s streaming service that now has 116.9 million subscribers after adding 6.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2024,” WBD said. “As one of the most populous countries in the EMEA region, with more people than Germany, U.K., or France, the launch in Türkiye presents a major opportunity to entertain and engage millions of new fans with high-quality content across film and television from WBD’s world-class studios.”
The anticipated season 2 of Turkish hit series Magarsus, which is a Succession-type show set in the world of the citrus fruit business, premieres this Thursday on BluTV, with upcoming episodes released weekly. “The season’s final two episodes of the BluTV original will then land exclusively on Max” on April 17 and 24, the firm said. “Signaling the upcoming transition of this beloved drama from BluTV to a new home on Max, a Magarsus family portrait commissioned by celebrated Turkish artist Ethem Onur Bilgiç was seen being collected by removal men after a Magarsus screening in Istanbul today.”
In a promotional stunt for ‘Magarsus’ and Max, a portrait of the family featured in the Turkish original series was removed on Tuesday as it is set to move from streamer BluTV to Max in mid-April.
Said Jamie Cooke, general manager CEE, MENA and Türkiye at Warner Bros. Discovery: “Türkiye is a key market as we take Max global … . By combining the best of BluTV’s content together with the global content from Max and its enhanced global platform, we’re not only improving the user experience, but also offering the subscribers much more to choose from. This marks a significant and exciting milestone in fully integrating BluTV into Warner Bros. Discovery’s global portfolio.”
BluTV and Hepsiburada, a Turkish e-commerce brand, established a strategic partnership in 2022, granting Hepsiburada Premium members access to BluTV. “As BluTV transitions to Max, Hepsiburada Premium members will continue to enjoy access to the enhanced platform,” WBD highlighted on Tuesday.
Watch a sizzle reel for the move from BluTV to Max below.