Show TV

Show TV is a Turkish free-to-air national television channel serving audiences in Turkey. It began test transmissions on 1 March 1991 and was established by Turkish businessmen Erol Aksoy, Dinç Bilgin, Haldun Simavi and Erol Simavi. The channel's early development is associated particularly with Aksoy and Haldun Simavi, while the broader founding group is identified in reference material as including all four businessmen. After its launch, Show TV expanded its operations and later moved its headquarters to Istanbul, where it began regular official broadcasting approximately a year after the initial test transmissions. The channel operates as a general-interest broadcaster rather than a narrowly specialized service. Its programming has included Turkish television dramas, imported and locally adapted entertainment formats, reality and competition shows, celebrity-led programs, news and lifestyle content. Its drama portfolio has included commercially prominent Turkish series such as Kurtlar Vadisi, Doktorlar, Adını Feriha Koydum, Muhteşem Yüzyıl, Çukur, İçerde, Ezel, Ramo, Alev Alev, Bahar and Deha. The channel has also carried local adaptations of international formats, including Deal or No Deal, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, The Weakest Link, Come Dine with Me, MasterChef, Survivor, Got Talent, The Voice and Wipeout. Show TV developed a wider channel presence through related services such as Show Max and Show Turk. These extensions broadened the group’s reach across additional entertainment and Turkish-language television offerings, although the available reference material does not provide a complete corporate history or current operating structure for each related service. Show TV’s on-air identity has also been associated with a substantial roster of Turkish presenters, performers and television personalities, including Ece Erken, Defne Samyeli, Gülben Ergen, Bülent Ersoy, Ferhat Göçer, Ece Üner, Reha Muhtar, Serdar Ortaç, Demet Akbağ, Mehmet Ali Erbil, Volkan Konak, Alişan, Hülya Avşar, Acun Ilıcalı, Seda Sayan and Çağla Şıkel. Ownership has changed during the channel’s history. The reference material states that Show TV was reacquired by Ciner Media Group on 6 June 2013. It also reports that on 11 September 2025 the channel was seized by the Turkish state and placed under the control of the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund of Turkey in connection with an investigation involving Can Holding and allegations of fraud, tax evasion and money laundering. Because the cited material does not describe the final legal disposition of that intervention or any subsequent ownership transfer, TMSF is recorded here as the reported controlling owner and the channel’s longer-term corporate status remains subject to review.

Show TV emerged in Turkey’s expanding private television sector in 1991. The channel was established by Erol Aksoy, Dinç Bilgin, Haldun Simavi and Erol Simavi, with the early initiative particularly associated with Aksoy and Haldun Simavi. It began test transmissions on 1 March 1991. Approximately a year later, the operation moved its headquarters to Istanbul and commenced official broadcasting. The channel’s launch placed it among Turkey’s national free-to-air broadcasters at a time when privately operated television was becoming increasingly important to the country’s media landscape. From its early years, Show TV developed a general-entertainment identity. Rather than concentrating on a single genre, it combined serial drama, variety programming, celebrity entertainment, reality television, competition formats and other mass-market programming. Its schedule included both Turkish productions and localized versions of international formats. Examples cited in reference material include the Turkish versions of Deal or No Deal, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, The Weakest Link, Come Dine with Me, MasterChef, Survivor, Got Talent and The Voice. This format strategy enabled the broadcaster to combine familiar international program concepts with Turkish presenters and production practices. Turkish scripted drama became an important part of Show TV’s programming profile. Across different periods, the channel aired series including Deli Yürek, Kurtlar Vadisi, Doktorlar, Cennet Mahallesi, Acı Hayat, Ezel, Adını Feriha Koydum, Muhteşem Yüzyıl, Çukur, İçerde, Ramo, Alev Alev, Aşk Laftan Anlamaz, Kuzey Yıldızı İlk Aşk, Bahar and Deha. The channel’s entertainment identity was also reinforced by presenters and performers such as Ece Üner, Reha Muhtar, Seda Sayan, Hülya Avşar, Acun Ilıcalı and other prominent Turkish television personalities. Show TV later extended its channel portfolio with Show Max and Show Turk. The available reference material indicates that these services were intended to broaden the group’s television reach, but it does not provide sufficient detail to establish their complete launch chronology, ownership arrangements or current status. Show TV itself remained the principal national channel associated with the brand. A significant ownership event occurred on 6 June 2013, when Ciner Media Group reportedly reacquired the channel. The ownership history before and after that transaction is not fully documented in the supplied material. On 11 September 2025, Show TV was reportedly seized by the Turkish state and transferred to the control of the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund of Turkey. The intervention was described as part of an investigation involving Can Holding and allegations including fraud, tax evasion and money laundering. The cited reference does not establish whether this control was temporary, whether ownership was permanently transferred, or how the investigation concluded. Accordingly, the channel’s current status is recorded as active, while its ultimate corporate ownership and post-seizure governance require further verification.

• 2025

  State seizure and TMSF control

  [1]Show TVen.wikipedia.org

  The channel was reportedly seized on 11 September 2025 and placed under the control of Turkey’s Savings Deposit Insurance Fund during an investigation involving Can Holding.

• 2013

  Ciner Media Group reacquires Show TV

  [1]Show TVen.wikipedia.org

  Ciner Media Group reportedly reacquired the channel on 6 June 2013.

• 1992

  Headquarters move to Istanbul and official broadcasting begins

  [1]Show TVen.wikipedia.org

  About a year after its test launch, the channel moved its headquarters to Istanbul and started official broadcasts.

• 1991

  Test transmissions begin

  [1]Show TVen.wikipedia.org

  Show TV began test transmissions on 1 March 1991.

A broad-audience Turkish national broadcaster combining locally produced drama, entertainment, reality programming and Turkish adaptations of internationally recognized television formats.

• Free-to-air television channel · 1991

  Show TV national channel

  The core Show TV service is a Turkish national free-to-air channel with a general-interest schedule. Its programming mix has included locally produced drama, entertainment, reality television, competitions, magazine shows and adapted international formats. The service is positioned for broad domestic reach rather than a specialist audience.

• Related television channel

  Show Max

  Show Max is identified in reference material as an additional channel developed within the wider Show TV group. The supplied sources do not provide enough information to describe its launch date, exact programming profile or current operational status.

• Related television channel

  Show Turk

  Show Turk is listed as another channel associated with the Show TV group. Available reference material indicates that it contributed to the brand’s broader channel reach, but does not document its full history, target market or current status.

• Scripted television

  Turkish drama programming

  Show TV has aired a substantial range of Turkish scripted series, including crime, romance, family, medical and historical dramas. Cited examples include Kurtlar Vadisi, Doktorlar, Adını Feriha Koydum, Muhteşem Yüzyıl, Çukur, İçerde, Ramo, Alev Alev, Bahar and Deha.

• Entertainment television

  Entertainment and format programming

  The channel’s entertainment output has included locally adapted versions of internationally known formats such as Deal or No Deal, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, The Weakest Link, Come Dine with Me, MasterChef, Survivor, Got Talent and The Voice, alongside original magazine, variety and celebrity-led programs.

• 2025

  State seizure linked to Can Holding investigation

  On 11 September 2025, Show TV was reportedly taken into state control through the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund of Turkey. The action was described as part of an investigation involving Can Holding and allegations of fraud, tax evasion and money laundering. The supplied reference does not establish the final legal outcome or whether the control arrangement was permanent.

  Source

Read more

• 2025

  Transfer to TMSF controlOther

  Background

  The channel was identified in reporting about a state investigation involving Can Holding and alleged financial crimes.

  Action taken

  On 11 September 2025, the Turkish state seized Show TV and placed it under the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund of Turkey.

  Aftermath

  The available reference material does not clarify the investigation’s conclusion, the duration of TMSF control or the channel’s final ownership position.

  Source

• 2013

  Reacquisition by Ciner Media GroupM&A

  Background

  Show TV underwent an ownership change within Turkey’s media sector.

  Action taken

  Ciner Media Group reportedly reacquired the channel on 6 June 2013.

  Aftermath

  The supplied reference does not provide detailed information about the subsequent management structure or financial terms.

  Source

• 2013

  Show TV reacquired by Ciner Media Group[1]Show TVen.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Other

  Reference material states that Ciner Media Group reacquired Show TV on 6 June 2013.

1. 1Show TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Show TV official websiteshowtv.com.tr