Fresh and Proven Hits Shine in Kanal D’s Catalog at NATPE Budapest
Sangerim Zhakhina, Sales Manager for CIS, CEE, and Baltics, will be representing Kanal D International at NATPE Budapest 2025. In this interview, she tells TVBIZZ Magazine about the latest hits in the catalog of the Turkish distributor, the freshest deals in the CEE region and the company’s strategy for its further international expansion.
Sangerim Zhakhina, Sales Manager for CIS, CEE, and Baltics
Kanal D International’s catalog features a range of emotionally charged dramas. What type of stories resonate the most across the diverse international markets?
Kanal D International’s emotionally charged dramas resonate globally due to their exploration of universal themes and high production values. These series delve into narratives that transcend cultural boundaries, making them appealing to diverse international audiences.
The most resonant stories often revolve around Cinderella Stories: narratives where protagonists rise from adversity to achieve success or happiness; Mother–Daughter Relationships: dramas that explore complex familial bonds, delving into themes of sacrifice, misunderstanding, and reconciliation; and Life Struggles: stories depicting characters overcoming significant personal and societal challenges, reflecting resilience and determination.
Additionally, there’s a growing trend for romantic comedies (romcoms) in certain territories. In times of uncertainty, viewers often gravitate towards lighter, uplifting content that offers escapism and hope.
What are the newest titles in Kanal D’s offer that you expect to turn into international hits?
Kanal D International’s 2025 slate features several standout titles poised to become international hits, blending emotional depth with compelling storytelling.
Secret of Pearls is a gripping drama follows Azem, a literature teacher whose life is upended when he’s falsely accused of his wife’s murder. Upon release, he embarks on a quest to reunite with his children, navigating complex relationships and past traumas. The series has already been licensed to over 50 countries, including MENA, Serbia, Lithuania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia, with a third season launching in September 2025.
The Family Burden was initially a summer series, and its strong performance extended its run into the new season. The story centers around a powerful mother–daughter relationship, with a love triangle, buried past secrets, and a crime the mother didn’t commit—but is forced to carry the weight of. It has been licensed to MENA, Romania, and CIS countries, more to come!
Farewell Letter is a premium drama that brings together generations through a heartfelt story of love, family, and past regrets resurfacing in unexpected ways. It has been extremely popular in CEE market and licensed in Hungary, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Estonia, among others.
We are bringing to the market two new movies as well, including Grill and Cash which is a 107-minute feature film blending absurd comedy with crime, following two brothers who find themselves in over their heads after a bag of cash—and a dead debt collector—land in their failing kiosk. The film offers a unique balance of humor, tension, and social satire.
Crazy for Love focuses on Ali is a young man who falls in love with Zeynep at first sight. However, Zeynep is committed to a mental hospital as part of a malicious scheme. Determined to rescue her, Ali embarks on a series of wild adventures.
I have to highlight a very successful Portuguese adaptation of Ruthless City under the title Broken Promise. It has been nominated for Best Telenovela at the Rose d’Or Latinos Awards 2025, highlighting its international appeal.
These titles exemplify Kanal D International’s commitment to delivering high-quality, emotionally resonant content that appeals to a global audience.
What have been your latest deals in the CEE region?
Our newest titles and evergreen library been extremely active on sales recently. Within these six months, we licensed to CEE countries the following titles in multiple deals: The Family Burden, Love and Hate, Farewell Letter, Secret of Pearls, as well as the library titles Time Goes By, Leaf Cast, and Sweet Revenge.
What strategies have been most effective in distributing Kanal D’s hit titles across the world – from CEE to MENA, and from Latin America to Africa and Asia?
Kanal D International has effectively expanded its global footprint through a combination of strategic initiatives tailored to diverse markets like CEE, MENA, Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Our key strategies include Regional Expertise and Dedicated Sales Teams - Kanal D International has appointed specialized sales managers for different regions to ensure a deep understanding of local market dynamics and viewer preferences; Strategic Content Distribution and Format Adaptations. By offering both finished content and adaptable formats, Kanal D International caters to varying broadcaster needs. This flexibility allows for localized adaptations, making content more relatable to regional audiences. Notably, the adaptation of Ruthless City into Broken Promise in Portugal exemplifies this approach.
Our participation in key industry events like NATPE Budapest and NEM Dubrovnik enables Kanal D International to showcase its content portfolio, engage with potential partners, and stay attuned to global industry trends.
Kanal D International is also offering several non-scripted titles. Are you planning to expand that segment of your distribution business?
Absolutely. One of our standout non-scripted offerings is Arda’s Kitchen, hosted by renowned chef Arda Türkmen. The show presents a delightful array of recipes from Turkish cuisine and around the world.
Adding a unique twist, we also feature Back to Back with Arda, where Arda is joined by popular actors and actresses from our well-known series. Together, they cook the same recipe simultaneously, leading to entertaining and often humorous outcomes. It’s an excellent promotional tool and serves as compelling interstitial content to support Turkish programming slots.
Are there plans to engage in more co-productions in the near future? If so, which regions or genres are you focusing on for these collaborations?
Yes, Kanal D International is actively expanding its co-production initiatives to enhance its global presence and diversify its content portfolio. The company is exploring various collaborative models, including co-financing, pre-licensing agreements, and joint development of original concepts.
You recently announced the addition of fresh new talent to your global sales team. How is Kanal D International evolving its distribution strategy to meet the demands of modern viewers?
To reinforce our global footprint, Kanal D International has recently made several strategic additions to our sales team. Our approach is centered on gaining a deeper understanding of each market’s unique and evolving needs. In line with this, we’ve expanded our team with key hires focused on the CEE and European regions.
I joined Kanal D International in January as Sales Manager for the CIS market, and as of April, I’ve also taken responsibility for Central and Eastern Europe as well as the Baltics. Our distribution strategy in these regions is rooted in deep market insight and a comprehensive understanding of our diverse content catalogue. With over eight years of experience in content acquisition—ranging from Turkish dramas and films to animations, documentaries, and formats—I bring a buyer’s perspective that helps us forge strong, meaningful partnerships.
To further strengthen our presence in CEE and the Baltics, Önay Devrim has recently joined us as Sales Executive. She brings a rich and varied background in cinema and television, having worked in production, costume design, and international content sales—experience that enhances our ability to connect with partners on both creative and commercial levels.
We’ve also welcomed Mesut Özkeçeci as Sales Manager for Europe. Mesut combines a background in acting across television, theatre, and film with more than 15 years of sales experience across different industries. His fluency in English and Italian adds further versatility to our team as we continue to grow in key European markets.
These appointments reflect our commitment to building a highly knowledgeable, agile, and market-attuned sales force that can deliver the content modern audiences are looking for—wherever they are in the world.
Of course I must mention other members of our strong team, each of them is responsible for different markets and business areas, but we exchange insights and experience in order to meet high and dynamic standards of modern viewers.
Given the global shift towards streaming platforms, how is Kanal D International leveraging OTT services to expand its audience base, and what role do digital platforms play in your overall distribution strategy?
As more viewers turn to streaming platforms, Kanal D International is focusing on digital and OTT services to reach wider audiences around the world.
One key part of this strategy is Kanal D Drama, our Turkish drama channel. It’s already available in Latin America and was the first Turkish drama channel to launch in the U.S. through Comcast. We plan to expand it to more regions, including Europe, Africa, and Asia.
We’re also working closely with global and regional OTT platforms to make our content available on-demand. This helps us connect with younger viewers and those who prefer watching on mobile or smart devices.
Digital platforms also give us valuable data about what people like to watch and how they watch it. This helps us make smarter decisions about what content to offer and where.
Overall, digital and OTT platforms are a big part of our distribution strategy. They help us share Turkish stories with more people in more places, in ways that match today’s viewing habits.
How does Kanal D International gather and utilize audience feedback from various regions to inform future programming and distribution decisions?
First, we work closely with our broadcast and streaming partners, who share valuable viewership data and audience insights. This helps us see which shows perform best, what genres are most popular, and how audience preferences vary by region.
We also pay close attention to social media engagement and online feedback, which gives us real-time reactions from viewers. Comments, shares, and trends help us understand what audiences connect with emotionally.
In addition, good old video calls of our local sales teams with clients and partners on the ground. Their feedback helps us fine-tune our strategy for each market, whether it’s choosing the right title to promote or adjusting our release windows.
Kanal D International’s emotionally charged dramas resonate globally due to their exploration of universal themes and high production values. These series delve into narratives that transcend cultural boundaries, making them appealing to diverse international audiences.
The most resonant stories often revolve around Cinderella Stories: narratives where protagonists rise from adversity to achieve success or happiness; Mother–Daughter Relationships: dramas that explore complex familial bonds, delving into themes of sacrifice, misunderstanding, and reconciliation; and Life Struggles: stories depicting characters overcoming significant personal and societal challenges, reflecting resilience and determination.
Additionally, there’s a growing trend for romantic comedies (romcoms) in certain territories. In times of uncertainty, viewers often gravitate towards lighter, uplifting content that offers escapism and hope.
What are the newest titles in Kanal D’s offer that you expect to turn into international hits?
Kanal D International’s 2025 slate features several standout titles poised to become international hits, blending emotional depth with compelling storytelling.
Secret of Pearls is a gripping drama follows Azem, a literature teacher whose life is upended when he’s falsely accused of his wife’s murder. Upon release, he embarks on a quest to reunite with his children, navigating complex relationships and past traumas. The series has already been licensed to over 50 countries, including MENA, Serbia, Lithuania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia, with a third season launching in September 2025.
The Family Burden was initially a summer series, and its strong performance extended its run into the new season. The story centers around a powerful mother–daughter relationship, with a love triangle, buried past secrets, and a crime the mother didn’t commit—but is forced to carry the weight of. It has been licensed to MENA, Romania, and CIS countries, more to come!
Farewell Letter is a premium drama that brings together generations through a heartfelt story of love, family, and past regrets resurfacing in unexpected ways. It has been extremely popular in CEE market and licensed in Hungary, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Estonia, among others.
We are bringing to the market two new movies as well, including Grill and Cash which is a 107-minute feature film blending absurd comedy with crime, following two brothers who find themselves in over their heads after a bag of cash—and a dead debt collector—land in their failing kiosk. The film offers a unique balance of humor, tension, and social satire.
Crazy for Love focuses on Ali is a young man who falls in love with Zeynep at first sight. However, Zeynep is committed to a mental hospital as part of a malicious scheme. Determined to rescue her, Ali embarks on a series of wild adventures.
I have to highlight a very successful Portuguese adaptation of Ruthless City under the title Broken Promise. It has been nominated for Best Telenovela at the Rose d’Or Latinos Awards 2025, highlighting its international appeal.
These titles exemplify Kanal D International’s commitment to delivering high-quality, emotionally resonant content that appeals to a global audience.
What have been your latest deals in the CEE region?
Our newest titles and evergreen library been extremely active on sales recently. Within these six months, we licensed to CEE countries the following titles in multiple deals: The Family Burden, Love and Hate, Farewell Letter, Secret of Pearls, as well as the library titles Time Goes By, Leaf Cast, and Sweet Revenge.
The Family Burden
What strategies have been most effective in distributing Kanal D’s hit titles across the world – from CEE to MENA, and from Latin America to Africa and Asia?
Kanal D International has effectively expanded its global footprint through a combination of strategic initiatives tailored to diverse markets like CEE, MENA, Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Our key strategies include Regional Expertise and Dedicated Sales Teams - Kanal D International has appointed specialized sales managers for different regions to ensure a deep understanding of local market dynamics and viewer preferences; Strategic Content Distribution and Format Adaptations. By offering both finished content and adaptable formats, Kanal D International caters to varying broadcaster needs. This flexibility allows for localized adaptations, making content more relatable to regional audiences. Notably, the adaptation of Ruthless City into Broken Promise in Portugal exemplifies this approach.
Our participation in key industry events like NATPE Budapest and NEM Dubrovnik enables Kanal D International to showcase its content portfolio, engage with potential partners, and stay attuned to global industry trends.
Kanal D International is also offering several non-scripted titles. Are you planning to expand that segment of your distribution business?
Absolutely. One of our standout non-scripted offerings is Arda’s Kitchen, hosted by renowned chef Arda Türkmen. The show presents a delightful array of recipes from Turkish cuisine and around the world.
Adding a unique twist, we also feature Back to Back with Arda, where Arda is joined by popular actors and actresses from our well-known series. Together, they cook the same recipe simultaneously, leading to entertaining and often humorous outcomes. It’s an excellent promotional tool and serves as compelling interstitial content to support Turkish programming slots.
Are there plans to engage in more co-productions in the near future? If so, which regions or genres are you focusing on for these collaborations?
Yes, Kanal D International is actively expanding its co-production initiatives to enhance its global presence and diversify its content portfolio. The company is exploring various collaborative models, including co-financing, pre-licensing agreements, and joint development of original concepts.
You recently announced the addition of fresh new talent to your global sales team. How is Kanal D International evolving its distribution strategy to meet the demands of modern viewers?
To reinforce our global footprint, Kanal D International has recently made several strategic additions to our sales team. Our approach is centered on gaining a deeper understanding of each market’s unique and evolving needs. In line with this, we’ve expanded our team with key hires focused on the CEE and European regions.
I joined Kanal D International in January as Sales Manager for the CIS market, and as of April, I’ve also taken responsibility for Central and Eastern Europe as well as the Baltics. Our distribution strategy in these regions is rooted in deep market insight and a comprehensive understanding of our diverse content catalogue. With over eight years of experience in content acquisition—ranging from Turkish dramas and films to animations, documentaries, and formats—I bring a buyer’s perspective that helps us forge strong, meaningful partnerships.
Secret of Pearls
To further strengthen our presence in CEE and the Baltics, Önay Devrim has recently joined us as Sales Executive. She brings a rich and varied background in cinema and television, having worked in production, costume design, and international content sales—experience that enhances our ability to connect with partners on both creative and commercial levels.
We’ve also welcomed Mesut Özkeçeci as Sales Manager for Europe. Mesut combines a background in acting across television, theatre, and film with more than 15 years of sales experience across different industries. His fluency in English and Italian adds further versatility to our team as we continue to grow in key European markets.
These appointments reflect our commitment to building a highly knowledgeable, agile, and market-attuned sales force that can deliver the content modern audiences are looking for—wherever they are in the world.
Of course I must mention other members of our strong team, each of them is responsible for different markets and business areas, but we exchange insights and experience in order to meet high and dynamic standards of modern viewers.
Given the global shift towards streaming platforms, how is Kanal D International leveraging OTT services to expand its audience base, and what role do digital platforms play in your overall distribution strategy?
As more viewers turn to streaming platforms, Kanal D International is focusing on digital and OTT services to reach wider audiences around the world.
One key part of this strategy is Kanal D Drama, our Turkish drama channel. It’s already available in Latin America and was the first Turkish drama channel to launch in the U.S. through Comcast. We plan to expand it to more regions, including Europe, Africa, and Asia.
We’re also working closely with global and regional OTT platforms to make our content available on-demand. This helps us connect with younger viewers and those who prefer watching on mobile or smart devices.
Digital platforms also give us valuable data about what people like to watch and how they watch it. This helps us make smarter decisions about what content to offer and where.
Overall, digital and OTT platforms are a big part of our distribution strategy. They help us share Turkish stories with more people in more places, in ways that match today’s viewing habits.
How does Kanal D International gather and utilize audience feedback from various regions to inform future programming and distribution decisions?
First, we work closely with our broadcast and streaming partners, who share valuable viewership data and audience insights. This helps us see which shows perform best, what genres are most popular, and how audience preferences vary by region.
We also pay close attention to social media engagement and online feedback, which gives us real-time reactions from viewers. Comments, shares, and trends help us understand what audiences connect with emotionally.
In addition, good old video calls of our local sales teams with clients and partners on the ground. Their feedback helps us fine-tune our strategy for each market, whether it’s choosing the right title to promote or adjusting our release windows.
