Turkish Dramas Pulled From Indian Streaming Services Amidst Geopolitical Tensions
Turkish Dramas Take a Backseat Amidst Geopolitical Tensions
Just as Pakistani dramas faced removal from Indian streaming platforms following escalating tensions between the two countries, Turkish shows are now following suit. Streaming platforms in India, like Zee5, are quietly pulling Turkish series from their catalogues, mirroring a move made by Pakistani actors who have been excluded from Indian music apps.
A Wave of Removals
Zee5, known for showcasing Turkish dramas in India, has already removed its entire collection of Turkish series. This includes popular titles like ‘Ertuğrul’, ‘Feriha’, and ‘Masum’, which had gained a massive following, particularly in Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities. The removals, however, have been made without any public announcement.
An insider from Zee5 revealed to Mid-day that the decision was driven by a desire to avoid potential backlash from viewers. They stated, “We’ve been monitoring the sentiment for weeks. While there is no government directive, we made a business decision to avoid a potential backlash. These titles, a part of the Zindagi bouquet, were doing well in Tier-1 and -2 cities, but the risk of reputational damage outweighed the benefits.”
Cautious Steps on Other Platforms
While platforms like Amazon’s MX Player haven’t yet removed Turkish content, they are exercising caution. Shows like ‘Golden Boy’, ‘Love is in the Air’, and ‘Endless Love’ are still available, but the platform’s content team has been instructed to halt new acquisitions from Turkey.
An insider from MX Player shared, “We haven’t received any formal instructions or advisory from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. As of now, no content has been removed, but we have paused new acquisitions from Turkish production houses.”
YouTube Channels Face Challenges
The uncertainty isn’t limited to OTT platforms. YouTube channels broadcasting Turkish dramas are also experiencing difficulties. Live Pakistan, a channel that aired ‘Resurrection: Ertuğrul’, has been inaccessible in India since Friday afternoon. The channel received multiple takedown requests over the past two days, leading to speculation about coordinated action.
A source from the channel stated, “We received three takedown requests in the past two days. It felt coordinated. If this escalates, more channels could disappear overnight from India.”
No Official Ban, But Industry Takes Action
Despite the absence of an official ban by the Indian government on Turkish dramas, the entertainment industry is taking proactive measures. The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has issued a strong statement urging the Indian government to take action against the continued streaming of Turkish shows on OTT platforms.
Looking Ahead
The situation surrounding Turkish content in India remains fluid. While there are no official directives, the sentiment and industry response indicate that Turkish dramas may face a prolonged period of uncertainty in the Indian market.
