ATV Brings Its Brand-New Hit to MIPCOM
Müge Akar, Head of Sales, Europe, Asia & Africa at ATV Distribution, talks to TVBIZZ Magazine about ATV’s best-sellers, their big MIPCOM premiere series and the latest trends on the Turkish TV market.
Müge Akar, Head of Sales, Europe, Asia & Africa at ATV Distribution
Müge, how many hours of content does ATV offer to international partners, and what are the most popular genres?
ATV Distribution boasts an extensive and diverse catalogue, offering approximately 242.100 hours of premium content to international partners. As Turkey’s leading TV Channel with decades of experience, ATV has consistently delivered a wide range of high-quality series that resonate with viewers worldwide. Among the most popular genres is romance, which appeals strongly to global audiences and drives high audience engagement. Additionally, ATV’s family-focused dramas—centred on human relationships, emotional connections, and universal values—continue to be in high demand across various regions.
What have been some of the latest deals for ATV, and what are your best-sellers this year?
ATV has secured several significant distribution deals in the past season, particularly for A Little Sunshine and For My Family, which have emerged as this year’s best-sellers, attracting substantial interest from broadcasters and streaming platforms across key markets. These titles have been particularly successful due to their compelling storylines, strong character development, and cultural authenticity—elements that resonate with diverse audiences. The international success of these series reflects ATV’s ability to create content that transcends geographic and cultural boundaries, continuing to drive interest from new territories.
What will be ATV’s main premiere at MIPCOM?
ATV will present The Nightfall at MIPCOM, which has maintained its position as the highest-rated TV series in Turkey since its premiere. The Nightfall follows Mahir, a police inspector returning to his hometown to seek justice for his father’s assassination. However, his mission becomes complicated when he falls in love with Canfeza, the daughter of his father’s killer. The TV series masterfully weaves themes of revenge, romance, and suspense, creating a narrative filled with unforeseen twists and anticipated to make a strong impact at MIPCOM, capturing the interest of international buyers.
What are the most important trends in the Turkish TV series market this year?
The Turkish TV series market in 2024 has seen a huge interest in classic drama structures, with audiences gravitating toward stories that evoke strong emotional responses through traditional narrative forms. This shift reflects a return to timeless storytelling, where themes of love, betrayal, family, and justice are prominently featured. As a result, series that successfully blend these classic elements with modern production techniques are performing exceptionally well.
What are the elements that have helped ATV maintain its position as the 1 TV broadcaster in Turkey for so many years?
ATV’s sustained leadership in the Turkish TV market is the result of a carefully crafted strategy that combines relatable storytelling, high production values, and exceptional stars. At its core, ATV focuses on producing series that reflect the realities of everyday life, allowing audiences to connect on a deeply emotional level. These stories, often rooted in family dynamics, societal challenges, and personal journeys, are enhanced by top-tier production teams and some of Turkey’s most prominent actors. By consistently delivering content that feels authentic and engaging, ATV has built a loyal viewer base, while its commitment to innovation and quality ensures its continued success in maintaining its rating leadership as a TV channel.
How has ATV adapted its strategy to work with free TV channels, pay TV brands, and streaming platforms in response to the changing content consumption landscape?
ATV has proactively adapted to the evolving media landscape by forging strategic partnerships with both traditional free-to-air television channels and emerging digital platforms, including pay TV and streaming services. This multi-platform approach allows us to meet the diverse content consumption preferences of global audiences, while simultaneously expanding our distribution reach. By maintaining flexibility and ensuring content compatibility across different platforms, we continue to strengthen our international presence.
Is ATV Distribution planning to expand its portfolio with series from other territories, particularly from CEE markets?
The CEE (Central and Eastern European) markets have long shown strong demand for Turkish content, with countries like Romania, Hungary, Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Lithuania and Latvia being major buyers of ATV’s Turkish dramas. This region shares a cultural affinity for the emotional depth, familial themes, and historical narratives that characterize Turkish series. The success of the Turkish series in these markets positions ATV to explore further collaborations of Turkish content. Any expansion would be considered carefully, ensuring that new content complements ATV’s existing portfolio while meeting the high standards set by the network.
ATV Distribution boasts an extensive and diverse catalogue, offering approximately 242.100 hours of premium content to international partners. As Turkey’s leading TV Channel with decades of experience, ATV has consistently delivered a wide range of high-quality series that resonate with viewers worldwide. Among the most popular genres is romance, which appeals strongly to global audiences and drives high audience engagement. Additionally, ATV’s family-focused dramas—centred on human relationships, emotional connections, and universal values—continue to be in high demand across various regions.
What have been some of the latest deals for ATV, and what are your best-sellers this year?
ATV has secured several significant distribution deals in the past season, particularly for A Little Sunshine and For My Family, which have emerged as this year’s best-sellers, attracting substantial interest from broadcasters and streaming platforms across key markets. These titles have been particularly successful due to their compelling storylines, strong character development, and cultural authenticity—elements that resonate with diverse audiences. The international success of these series reflects ATV’s ability to create content that transcends geographic and cultural boundaries, continuing to drive interest from new territories.
What will be ATV’s main premiere at MIPCOM?
ATV will present The Nightfall at MIPCOM, which has maintained its position as the highest-rated TV series in Turkey since its premiere. The Nightfall follows Mahir, a police inspector returning to his hometown to seek justice for his father’s assassination. However, his mission becomes complicated when he falls in love with Canfeza, the daughter of his father’s killer. The TV series masterfully weaves themes of revenge, romance, and suspense, creating a narrative filled with unforeseen twists and anticipated to make a strong impact at MIPCOM, capturing the interest of international buyers.
What are the most important trends in the Turkish TV series market this year?
The Turkish TV series market in 2024 has seen a huge interest in classic drama structures, with audiences gravitating toward stories that evoke strong emotional responses through traditional narrative forms. This shift reflects a return to timeless storytelling, where themes of love, betrayal, family, and justice are prominently featured. As a result, series that successfully blend these classic elements with modern production techniques are performing exceptionally well.
What are the elements that have helped ATV maintain its position as the 1 TV broadcaster in Turkey for so many years?
ATV’s sustained leadership in the Turkish TV market is the result of a carefully crafted strategy that combines relatable storytelling, high production values, and exceptional stars. At its core, ATV focuses on producing series that reflect the realities of everyday life, allowing audiences to connect on a deeply emotional level. These stories, often rooted in family dynamics, societal challenges, and personal journeys, are enhanced by top-tier production teams and some of Turkey’s most prominent actors. By consistently delivering content that feels authentic and engaging, ATV has built a loyal viewer base, while its commitment to innovation and quality ensures its continued success in maintaining its rating leadership as a TV channel.
How has ATV adapted its strategy to work with free TV channels, pay TV brands, and streaming platforms in response to the changing content consumption landscape?
ATV has proactively adapted to the evolving media landscape by forging strategic partnerships with both traditional free-to-air television channels and emerging digital platforms, including pay TV and streaming services. This multi-platform approach allows us to meet the diverse content consumption preferences of global audiences, while simultaneously expanding our distribution reach. By maintaining flexibility and ensuring content compatibility across different platforms, we continue to strengthen our international presence.
Is ATV Distribution planning to expand its portfolio with series from other territories, particularly from CEE markets?
The CEE (Central and Eastern European) markets have long shown strong demand for Turkish content, with countries like Romania, Hungary, Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Lithuania and Latvia being major buyers of ATV’s Turkish dramas. This region shares a cultural affinity for the emotional depth, familial themes, and historical narratives that characterize Turkish series. The success of the Turkish series in these markets positions ATV to explore further collaborations of Turkish content. Any expansion would be considered carefully, ensuring that new content complements ATV’s existing portfolio while meeting the high standards set by the network.
