Disney Channel going free-to-air in Turkey


Disney Channel is launching on Free Sat in Turkey, taking the kids and family offering into 60% of Turkey’s 18.5 million TV homes.

The channel will launch on the free-to-air service on January 12 as an ad-supported service.

“Turkey’s youthful population coupled with a high affinity for digital media create a perfect environment for this free to air approach,” said Giorgio Stock, executive vice-president and managing director, Disney Channels, music, publishing, gaming and online, The Walt Disney Company EMEA. “As the gateway to all things Disney, Disney Channel is the ideal vehicle to grow our presence in Turkey – our brand has universal appeal and this launch will give it nearly universal reach.”

Disney XD and Disney Junior will remain pay TV channels in Turkey. Disney’s strategy in Turkey is similar to the one it adopted in Spain where it changed from a pay, to a free-to-air, channel in 2008.