TLC Rolls Out in Turkey

SILVER SPRING/ISTANBUL: Following its acquisition of the Turkish national free-to-air entertainment channel CNBC-e from Doğuş Media Group, Discovery Communications is set to launch its flagship global entertainment and lifestyle network TLC in Turkey.

Due to launch in Turkey in November, TLC will air nonscripted and scripted international content, including lifestyle, reality and factual entertainment programming. Fear the Walking Dead and Aquarius, as well as several series from OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, are among the titles that will be offered on the channel, which replaces CNBC-e. Popular shows from CNBC-e such as The Vikings, Hannibal and Mike & Molly will also be available on TLC in Turkey. 

“Today marks a new era in our Turkish business, as we close our deal with Doğuş Media Group to acquire CNBC-e and announce the launch of TLC—Discovery’s leading lifestyle and entertainment channel brand and first free-to-air channel in the growing Turkish market,” said James Gibbons, the executive VP and country manager of emerging business at Discovery Networks CEEMEA. “Discovery successfully runs both pay-TV and free-to-air platforms in a number of markets across Europe, and TLC Turkey will offer a diverse mix of content that adds value to our existing strong portfolio, including dedicated feeds for Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and Discovery Science. TLC is the channel Turkey has been waiting for and we look forward to presenting it to viewers and our commercial partners this November.”

Doğuş Media Group’s chairman Erman Yerdelen remarked: “As Doğuş Media Group, we believe Discovery Communications will introduce the Turkish market to a totally new channel, reflecting the latest trends in various types of entertainment under a very strong brand like TLC. Thanks to its strong and diverse programming schedule, we are sure that Turkish viewers will be addicted to TLC Turkey and it will be the leading channel in its genre. We look forward to working alongside Discovery on future projects and offering even more surprises for Turkish viewers.”