CNBC-e
A Turkish television channel combining business news, financial programming, entertainment, and imported series.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
CNBC-e is a Turkish television brand known for combining financial news with mainstream entertainment. Its history began with Kanal E, a Turkish economic-news channel launched in 1995 by Hakan Çizem. After changes in ownership, the station became part of the Doğuş media portfolio and was rebranded CNBC-e in 2000 through a partnership with NBCUniversal, the owner of the CNBC brand. The arrangement gave the channel an internationally recognizable identity while allowing it to retain a specifically Turkish programming and presentation model. During its first major phase, CNBC-e divided the broadcast day into two distinct services. Daytime programming, generally scheduled from the early morning through the afternoon, focused on business news, market data, economic commentary, and information for professional and individual investors. The evening schedule shifted toward entertainment, carrying American television series, films, and other imported programming. Content associated with networks and studios including FOX, HBO, The CW, ABC, NBC, and CBS appeared in the schedule, alongside weekend children's programming associated with Nickelodeon. This hybrid model differentiated CNBC-e from a conventional financial-news channel and helped make it a recognizable general-interest television service in Turkey. The channel also developed a visible technical and brand relationship with other Doğuş-owned services. In 2011, the high-definition service known as HD-en was relaunched as HDe and carried simultaneous programming from NTV, NTV Spor, CNBC-e, and e2. CNBC-e moved to a 16:9 presentation format in September 2011. A related standard-definition service, provisionally referred to as TV-en, was planned but ultimately abandoned after Doğuş Holding acquired Star TV and redirected the intended programming there. CNBC-e's visual identity drew on the color language of the NBC peacock, reflecting its connection to the wider CNBC and NBCUniversal brand family. The channel operated within Turkey's regulated broadcasting environment and received administrative penalties from the Radio and Television Supreme Council, known by its Turkish initials RTÜK, over material in imported films and series and over advertising shown around that content. The resulting editorial compromises became part of the channel's public identity. Viewers were informed when scenes had been shortened or removed, while certain tobacco imagery was obscured and some children's programming received additional self-censorship. The channel therefore had to balance the appeal of presenting international programs with Turkish regulatory requirements. Discovery Communications acquired CNBC-e from Doğuş Media Group in 2015. The original service ended its broadcast on 6 November 2015 and was replaced by TLC Turkey. The final period included an airing of Shameless on the preceding evening. Following the transaction, the CNBC-e-branded economic web portal was moved to NTVPara.com, separating the former digital financial operation from the television identity. The brand returned to Turkish television on 10 June 2024. The revival was associated with İlbak Holding and Versant, the successor company operating the relevant media assets after the separation of Warner Bros. Discovery and certain former NBCUniversal assets. Former CNBC-e personnel had discussed a possible return from 2022 onward, and former general manager Artunç Kocabalkan said that work on bringing CNBC back to Turkey had been under way since September 2021. Promotional activity in 2024 included billboards and announcements through official social channels. The revived channel again combined economic programming with entertainment, imported series, lifestyle shows, documentaries, contests, talk programming, concerts, animation, and sports-related content. Its 2024 schedule included Sabah Notları, e-Cafe, Para Ekranı, Finans Sohbetleri, Son Baskı, and 4'te Ekonomi, alongside programs such as The X-Files, The Offer, Halo, The Simpsons, Letterbox Türkiye, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, American Greed, and selected concert and sports programming.
History
CNBC-e's roots lie in Kanal E, founded in Turkey in 1995 by Hakan Çizem as a channel devoted to economic news. In 1998, Korkmaz Yiğit acquired Kanal E as part of a wider attempt to build a media group that also included Kanal 6 and several newspapers. Yiğit's legal difficulties later forced the disposal of those media assets, and Kanal E eventually passed to Doğuş Group, which also owned the news channel NTV. Doğuş sought to strengthen Kanal E by associating it with an internationally established financial-news name. In 2000, it partnered with NBCUniversal and relaunched the service as CNBC-e. The ownership arrangement was divided between NBCUniversal and Doğuş Holding, with each holding half of the channel according to the historical account. CNBC-e used a two-part daily format: daytime hours were dedicated to live or near-live economic coverage, market information, and analysis, while evening hours were dedicated to entertainment. Imported American series and films were shown with Turkish dubbing or subtitles, and weekend schedules included a Nickelodeon children's block. This combination of business journalism and entertainment gave CNBC-e a distinctive place in the Turkish television market. It was neither solely a specialist financial channel nor a standard general-entertainment broadcaster. Its programming could address investors and business professionals during the day and a broader household audience later in the day. The channel's branding also reflected its relationship with the NBC family: its logo and color treatment drew inspiration from the NBC peacock's color system. CNBC-e expanded its technical presence alongside other Doğuş services. A high-definition service originally identified as HD-en was relaunched as HDe in September 2011, carrying simultaneous programming from NTV, NTV Spor, CNBC-e, and e2. CNBC-e adopted a 16:9 image format on 12 September 2011. A planned standard-definition counterpart called TV-en did not proceed after Doğuş acquired Star TV; programming intended for the proposed service was instead transferred to Star TV. Imported programming brought regulatory challenges. Turkey's Radio and Television Supreme Council, RTÜK, imposed several administrative fines over content in American films and series and over advertisements broadcast around those programs. The channel attempted to explain some mandated cuts to viewers rather than presenting them as unexplained edits. Tobacco imagery was covered with a flower symbol, and some Nickelodeon cartoons received additional self-censorship through their Turkish dubbing. These measures illustrated the tension between the channel's international entertainment catalogue and domestic broadcasting rules. Discovery Communications acquired CNBC-e from Doğuş Media Group in 2015. The acquisition was completed in October, and CNBC-e stopped broadcasting on 6 November. TLC Turkey replaced it, while the CNBC-e economic web portal was transferred to NTVPara.com. The original channel's final broadcast period included the program Shameless on the evening before closure. The brand later began a return to Turkey. Former employees, including former general manager Artunç Kocabalkan, publicly discussed the possibility from 2022, with Kocabalkan saying that preparations had been under way since September 2021. İlbak Holding and CNBC-related websites announced the intended revival in 2023. Promotional billboards appeared in 2024, and official accounts announced that broadcasting would restart on 10 June 2024. The revived service operated under Versant and İlbak Holding and restored the brand's mixed proposition. Its 2024 output included financial shows, Turkish-hosted talk and lifestyle programs, international series, animation, documentaries, contests, concerts, and sports-related programming.
- 2024
CNBC-e relaunches in Turkey
[1]The channel resumes broadcasting on 10 June under Versant and İlbak Holding.
- 2015
Discovery acquires CNBC-e
[1]Discovery Communications completes the acquisition of CNBC-e from Doğuş Media Group.
- 2015
The original CNBC-e service closes
[1]CNBC-e ends broadcasting on 6 November and is replaced by TLC Turkey.
- 2011
The HD service becomes HDe
[1]HD-en is rebranded HDe and carries simultaneous programming from CNBC-e and other Doğuş channels.
- 2011
CNBC-e adopts a 16:9 format
[1]The channel switches to widescreen 16:9 presentation.
- 2000
Kanal E becomes CNBC-e
[1]Doğuş Holding and NBCUniversal rebrand Kanal E as CNBC-e and establish a format combining daytime economic coverage with evening entertainment.
- 1998
Kanal E changes ownership
[1]Korkmaz Yiğit acquires Kanal E as part of a broader media expansion before later legal problems lead to the disposal of his media holdings.
- 1995
Kanal E is established
[1]Hakan Çizem launches Kanal E as a Turkish channel focused on economic news.
Products and positioning
A Turkish free-to-air television channel positioned at the intersection of financial journalism and general entertainment. The brand historically used daytime economic coverage and evening international programming to serve investors, business audiences, and viewers seeking mainstream television entertainment.
Business news · 2000
CNBC-e daytime business programming
The channel's daytime service focused on economic reporting, market information, financial commentary, and programming for professional and individual investors. In the original format, this block occupied the main daytime schedule before the channel shifted toward entertainment in the evening.
Entertainment television · 2000
CNBC-e evening entertainment
The evening schedule carried imported American series and films, including programming associated with major U.S. networks and studios. Programs were presented with Turkish subtitles or dubbing, giving the financial-news brand a broader general-audience role.
High-definition television service · 2011
CNBC-e HD / HDe
The HD-en service was relaunched as HDe in 2011 and provided high-definition simultaneous programming from CNBC-e and other channels in the Doğuş television portfolio.
Television channel · 2024
CNBC-e 2024 programming service
The revived service combines Turkish-hosted economic shows such as Sabah Notları, e-Cafe, Para Ekranı, Finans Sohbetleri, Son Baskı, and 4'te Ekonomi with international series, documentaries, talk shows, lifestyle programs, contests, concerts, animation, and sports-related content.
Marketing campaigns
- 2024CNBC-e return campaign
Turkey
The revived CNBC-e used billboards and official social-media announcements to promote its return to Turkish television after the original service had been off air since 2015.
Outcome. The channel resumed broadcasting on 10 June 2024.
Brand decisions
2024
Relaunch CNBC-e in TurkeyProduct launchBackground
Former employees had discussed a revival, and preparations were publicly associated with work beginning in 2021.
Action taken
Versant and İlbak Holding resumed CNBC-e broadcasting on 10 June 2024 with financial, entertainment, lifestyle, documentary, and imported programming.
Aftermath
The CNBC-e name returned to the Turkish television market after an interruption of more than eight years.
2015
Sell CNBC-e to Discovery CommunicationsM&ABackground
Discovery Communications pursued the acquisition of the national economic-news and entertainment channel operated by Doğuş Media Group.
Action taken
The acquisition was completed in October 2015, followed by the replacement of CNBC-e with TLC Turkey.
Aftermath
CNBC-e ceased broadcasting on 6 November 2015 and its economic web portal was moved to NTVPara.com.
2011
Expand the high-definition service and adopt widescreen presentationGeneration changeBackground
Doğuş's television portfolio was developing shared high-definition services across several channels.
Action taken
HD-en was relaunched as HDe, and CNBC-e moved to a 16:9 aspect ratio.
Aftermath
CNBC-e became part of a broader high-definition simulcast structure alongside NTV, NTV Spor, and e2.
2000
Adopt a dual business-and-entertainment formatStrategyBackground
Doğuş Holding sought to build a stronger channel identity for the former Kanal E and partnered with NBCUniversal to use the CNBC brand.
Action taken
The channel was relaunched as CNBC-e, with daytime economic programming and evening entertainment programming.
Aftermath
The hybrid format became the central distinction of CNBC-e during its first operating period.
Recent events
- 2024
CNBC-e returned to Turkish television[1]
Product launch · Other
The CNBC-e brand resumed broadcasting in Turkey on 10 June 2024 under Versant and İlbak Holding, with a schedule combining economic programming and entertainment.
- 2015
CNBC-e ended its original Turkish broadcast[1]
M&A · Other
Following Discovery Communications' acquisition of the channel from Doğuş Media Group, CNBC-e ceased broadcasting on 6 November 2015 and was replaced by TLC Turkey.
- 2011
CNBC-e introduced an HD simulcast identity[1]
Product generation · Other
The HD-en service carrying programming from several Doğuş channels was rebranded HDe and included simultaneous CNBC-e programming.
CNBC-e faced RTÜK penalties and content restrictions[1]
Regulation · Other
The channel received administrative fines connected with imported films, series, and advertising. It responded by explaining some edits to viewers and applying censorship to selected imagery and children's content.
Sources2 sources
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