Warner Bros. Discovery is set to introduce its streaming service, Max, to the Turkish market early next year. The announcement follows WBD's rebranding of BluTV, the regional SVOD platform, marking another step in the company’s global expansion strategy. Deniz Şaşmaz Oflaz, WBD’s Vice President of Local Original Productions, Local Channels, and Streaming Operations in Turkey, shared the news during a panel discussion at Content London.
BluTV became fully owned by WBD a year ago when the company acquired the remaining stake for an undisclosed amount. WBD initially purchased a 35% stake in the platform in 2021, recognizing its potential as a cornerstone for its regional streaming ambitions. The rebranding of BluTV to Max aligns with WBD's broader strategy to consolidate its streaming operations under one global brand. By doing so, the company aims to leverage Max’s reputation as a content powerhouse, combining HBO’s premium storytelling with Discovery’s broad appeal and BluTV’s local expertise.
Turkey’s launch is part of Max’s international expansion, which will see the service operational in 74 countries. This global reach has played a pivotal role in WBD’s streaming growth, contributing to the majority of its 110 million global SVOD subscribers as of September 30. A launch in Australia will come at around the same time as Turkey, while debuts in Launches in the UK, Germany and Italy, are coming in 2026, according to the company.
WBD projects 130 million global subscribers and $1 billion in operating profit by 2025. The Turkish market, with its digitally savvy population and growing appetite for premium content, presents a significant opportunity to contribute to these targets
Max’s recent standalone launch in France has also been met with enthusiasm, with the streamer greenlighting two original French series as part of its local content strategy. One of them, "Privileges" (working title), is a six-part thriller that follows young inmate Adèle, who lands a day job at a luxurious Paris hotel as part of an early-release deal, willing to endure any humiliation for a fresh start. But when she discovers her criminal past and her disposability are the very reason the Palace hired her, a dangerous game of power and manipulation begins. The second title, "Paolo," will comprise seven hour-long episodes. It follows Paolo, whose ordinary working-class existence is upended when he encounters the ambitious, and magnetic local politician Téophane, an old school mate. What begins as admiration and a desire to help Téophane’s campaign soon spirals into an all-consuming obsession, leading to a deadly ride in this intense psychological Ripley-style thriller.