Netflix seeks Turkish licence as new online video rules kick in

[tokoroko]

Netflix seeks Turkish licence as new online video rules kick in
Details
Rebecca Hawkes
| 04 September 2019

US video streaming service Netflix has joined local streaming platforms Puhu TV and Blu TV in applying for a licence to continue operating in Turkey, after new online broadcasting rules were announced.

Ebubekir Sahin, president of Turkey's television watchdog RTUK, said on Twitter that Netflix, Puhu TV and Blu TV are among 600 institutions which have applied for licenses under the tighter regulations.

In order to comply with the rules, the subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) service will set up a local office and pay 0.5% of revenue generated in Turkey to the government, Reuters reported. The new licence is key to the company being able to continue operating in Turkey, as well as complying with the as yet unpublished RTUK guidelines.

Netflix currently has 1.5 million subscribers in Turkey, reaching about 10% of the country's broadband households. Local programming it streams includes The Protector , about an Istanbul shopkeeper who battles immortal enemies, and another supernatural drama series The Gift.

However, if its content fails to meet the new guidelines, a 30 day period will be offered to rectify the issue. If the required changes are not made, Netflix or other media companies may have their licences suspended for three months and subsequently cancelled, according to reports.

[tokoroko]

Netflix seeks new Turkish licence
September 4, 2019 10.56 Europe/London By Chris Dziadul
Netflix has applied for a licence to continue operating in Turkey.
Reuters reports that this follows fears about future censorship following the granting of powers last month to the regulator RTUK to oversee all online content, including streaming platforms and news outlets.
It adds that Ebubekir Sahin, the president of RTUK, said that Netflix is one of over 600 companies that have applied for licences.
The others include Puhu TV, Blu TV, Turkcell, Vodafone, Digiturk and Tivibu.
Netflix will now be required to set up a local entity and pay 0.5% of its revenues to the Turkish government.
It is currently in talks with the authorities in Spain and Turkey to pay a similar levy.
Netflix has 1.5 million subscribers in Turkey and reaches around 10% of the country’s broadband market.