Disney Plus Official Statement on ‘Atatürk’

Atatürk

The digital platform Disney Plus has issued an official statement in response to the request from the state censor RTÜK, refuting claims that the series “Atatürk” was removed from the platform due to pressure from any particular lobby. It was a commercial decision made to optimize expenses within the framework of a global cost-cutting strategy for content production and promotion.

The entire strategy is transparent, as The Walt Disney Company, whose shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, is a publicly international company and is required by applicable legislation to inform shareholders and the stock exchange in advance about significant decisions. Therefore, this decision was reflected in reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and at public financial meetings of the company, as it is a major content strategy affecting multiple countries worldwide.

Disney’s decision to remove certain content from the Disney+ catalog pertains not only to the series “Atatürk” but also encompasses a variety of other foreign and local series and films from Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and even the United States. Additionally, Disney temporarily halted the production or release process of other local projects. Advertising and promotions related to the release of the series “Atatürk” were suspended in conjunction with the implementation of this strategy.

As officially announced by Disney on August 2, 2023, the “Atatürk” project will be released in its television version on the national channel FOX TV, accessible to all Turkish citizens, thus reaching a wider audience compared to Disney+ Turkey.