📺 Watching Television in Turkey – A Guide for Foreign Residents and Visitors
Turkey offers a wide range of television and streaming options for both locals and foreigners. Whether you prefer Turkish-language shows, international news, or premium English content, there are plenty of choices available — often at much lower prices than in the UK. From satellite broadcasts via Eutelsat and Hotbird, to major online platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+, viewers in Turkey can enjoy a rich mix of entertainment at a fraction of the cost found elsewhere.
🛰️ Satellite Channels – Eutelsat, Hotbird, and Freesat Options
Foreigners in Turkey often use Eutelsat or Hotbird satellites to receive international programming. Both offer a wide variety of free-to-air and premium English-language channels, including BBC World News, Euronews, CNN International, and various European networks.
- Eutelsat (www.eutelsat.com) covers much of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, and is widely used in Turkey. With a correctly positioned dish and receiver, you can access hundreds of free channels.
- Hotbird (www.hotbirdsat.com) offers over a thousand international channels, including British, Italian, and German stations, and is particularly popular among expatriates.
- Freesat (www.freesat.co.uk) or Sky (www.sky.com) channels are sometimes accessible with the right equipment, though signal strength varies across Turkey.
Installation costs for a dish and receiver are typically between ₺2,000–₺4,000 (£50–£100 / €60–€115 / $65–$120) depending on setup.
📡 Local Turkish Channels Offering English-Language Content
Turkey’s national broadcaster TRT (Türkiye Radyo Televizyon Kurumu) runs several channels, and TRT World (www.trtworld.com) broadcasts entirely in English, providing global news, documentaries, and cultural programming.
Cable and digital TV providers such as Digiturk (www.digiturk.com.tr), D-Smart (www.dsmart.com.tr), and Turkcell TV+ (tvplus.com.tr) offer premium channels including BBC Earth, BBC Lifestyle, Discovery Channel, and National Geographic — often in English or with Turkish subtitles.
Subscription prices generally range from ₺250–₺500 per month (£6.50–£13 / €7–€15 / $8–$16) depending on the package.
🎬 Netflix – Global Streaming at Local Prices
Netflix (www.netflix.com/tr) operates fully in Turkey, offering a large library of local and international films and series. Subscriptions are significantly cheaper if billed through a Turkish bank account or credit card.
| Plan | Turkey (₺) | UK (£) | Euro (€) | US ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic (1 screen, SD) | ₺120 | £7.99 | €9 | $9.99 |
| Standard (2 screens, HD) | ₺176 | £10.99 | €13 | $15.49 |
| Premium (4 screens, UHD) | ₺229 | £17.99 | €20 | $22.99 |
Most English-language content is available with optional Turkish subtitles or dubbing, making it ideal for both entertainment and language learning.
🎥 Amazon Prime Video – Films, Series, and Next-Day Shopping
Amazon Prime Video (www.primevideo.com) operates in Turkey, providing the same wide selection of global films and series available in the UK. Subscribers who join through Amazon Turkey (www.amazon.com.tr) pay around ₺60 per month (£1.60 / €1.80 / $2) or ₺600 per year (£16 / €18 / $20), compared to £8.99 per month in the UK.
Prime membership also provides benefits for online shopping within Turkey, such as free shipping and exclusive deals, making it one of the best-value services available.
🌟 Disney+ – Family Entertainment and Blockbusters
Disney+ (www.disneyplus.com/tr) launched in Turkey in 2022 and offers a huge catalogue from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic. English audio and Turkish subtitles are both available for most content.
- Turkey: ₺250 per month or ₺2,500 per year (£6.50 / €7 / $8 monthly)
- UK: £7.99 per month or £79.90 per year
- US: $13.99 per month (ad-free)
Local subscription through a Turkish card offers savings of around 60–70% compared with UK rates.
💡 Local Streaming Platforms
Turkish-based streaming services are growing in popularity, offering high-quality Turkish and international content at affordable rates:
- BluTV (www.blutv.com) – Turkey’s leading digital platform, offering Turkish and global dramas, documentaries, and films. ₺129 per month (£3.35 / €3.75 / $4).
- Exxen (www.exxen.com) – Specialises in Turkish comedies, sports, and entertainment. ₺99–₺199 per month (£2.60–£5.25) depending on ad-free options.
- PuhuTV (www.puhutv.com) – A free, ad-supported streaming service with a smaller selection of content but no subscription costs.
💳 Payment and Currency Advice
To get the best value, it’s strongly recommended to use a Turkish bank account or debit card when paying for your subscriptions. International platforms automatically detect your payment region and adjust pricing — meaning that paying from a UK or EU card will charge UK or EU rates, often two to three times more expensive.
For residents, opening a Turkish lira account for entertainment and digital subscriptions can lead to substantial savings each month.
✅ Summary
Turkey provides outstanding access to both international and local television. With Eutelsat, Hotbird, and TRT World, you can watch familiar news and programmes from home, while Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ offer premium content at much lower Turkish prices. Whether streaming on-demand or watching live TV, residents and tourists alike can enjoy a wide choice of entertainment by simply subscribing through local Turkish payment methods.
🌐 Important Note on Accessing UK TV Online
Some services such as BBC iPlayer (www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer), ITVX (www.itv.com), and Channel 4 (www.channel4.com) are restricted to the UK. However, it is possible to access these legally using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) that complies with both UK and Turkish regulations. A reputable VPN encrypts your connection and allows you to use your existing UK account securely while abroad.
Many British expatriates in Turkey use well-known VPN providers such as ExpressVPN (www.expressvpn.com), NordVPN (www.nordvpn.com), or ProtonVPN (www.protonvpn.com) to access UK-based streaming services. Always check that your VPN is fully legitimate and does not breach the terms of service of the platform you are using.
By combining local Turkish subscriptions with secure VPN access to UK content, you can enjoy the best of both worlds — high-quality Turkish and British entertainment, legally, safely, and at a fraction of the cost.