The Turkish Cihan news agency has announced the launch of a web TV platform to bring Turkish programming to viewers across the globe. The service will first be introduced in The Netherlands.
An agreement between Cihan and IPTV Iletisim (Communications) Holding to introduce this service was signed at Cihan’s headquarters in Yenibosna.
Across Europe there is a large Turkish population and increasing restriction on the use of satellite dishes. Abdülhamit Bilici, general director Chinan, said: “There are more than five million Turks who reside in Europe. The population of Turkish origin in Germany alone is higher than three million. England, the Netherlands, Belgium and France are important countries in this respect as well. We can add Australia and the US to this list, too. Bringing Turkish channels via IPTV to people who keep a close eye on events in Turkey is going to be a wonderful service. Our biggest advantage as Cihan is that we have a strong relationship based on trust with national and local stations in Turkey.”
The new IP deloivered service will not only distribute national channels but also local channels that broadcast from emigrants’ hometowns, which are not available over the satellite.”
Gökhan Özsaraç CEO Iletisim Holding, said: “We are going to reach everyone who speaks Turkish with this technology. The best part of IPTV is that you can watch television over the Internet without needing a satellite. The only thing that’s necessary is a television and an Internet connection. Hundreds of Turkish channels are going to be available. This agreement is going to expand the use of IPTV with 200 million people expected to use IPTV in 2014.”
The new technology will go into service first in the Netherlands and other European countries. The platform, which will deliver 10 local and 40 national channels, will become available to viewers around the world in the near future. It will also offer a catch-up TV service offering programmes up to eight days after the original broadcast.
