Can Okan, Inter Medya, CEO

What will be the highlights of your NATPE Budapest slate?
We are coming to NATPE Budapest with our wide, diverse and all-encompassing catalog. Our series catalog, which includes many successful Turkish dramas such as Love and Pride, Deception, Poison Ivy, Tuzak, Last Summer, The Trusted, Leylifer, will meet with NATPE Budapest participants. In addition, we are bringing our mini-series catalog, which we have expanded with very successful productions this season. With the exclusive distribution agreement we signed a few months ago with GAİN, one of Turkey’s leading digital platforms, our catalog has expanded significantly in both quantity and quality. In addition, The Ivy and Dreams and Realities, which are streamed on beIN Media Group’s digital platform TOD, are also noteworthy works in our mini-series catalog. Our wide feature films and format catalog will also meet with NATPE Budapest participants.

What are your latest deals in the CEE region and internationally?
We’re thrilled to announce significant sales success in the CEE region. Our popular dramas are finding new homes across the region. Deception has been licensed in Hungary, Serbia, and Montenegro, while Love and Pride has been licensed to Romania. Tuzak continues its international journey, securing licenses in Romania, Hungary, and Macedonia. Mrs. Fazilet and Her Daughters has been licensed in Romania and Slovakia. Poison Ivy and Bitter Lands have been acquired by Albania. Destiny is set to air in North Macedonia. We’re excited to share that many more deals in the CEE region are close to finalization.

Which are your “strongest” markets and are you looking into expanding into new territories?
As Inter Medya, our primary goal is to always be the best in every market. We always strive to do our best with the sales and marketing strategies that we carry out specifically for each region. Of course, we can say that Latin America has been the main market for Turkish content for a long time. We also have a lot of sales here, and all the content we sell here is watched by a large audience and achieves great success. We also have many sales in the CEE region. Here, we have very strong business relationships that we have developed over the years. We believe that the Asian region still has a lot of potential. We also have many sales there, but we believe that there are still many regions to explore and many contents to introduce. In line with this belief, we are pursuing an intensive marketing and customer relations strategy in Asia. We are confident that our sales to this region will increase even more. In addition, the Nordics and Western and Northern European countries are very large potential markets. Especially, as we see the intense interest in mini-series, I can say that I am sure that our sales here will increase very soon

Turkish dramas continue to be very popular around the world. To what do you attribute their longevity in terms of international demand?
Turkish content is truly one of a kind. We bring well-written stories to life with exceptionally high production quality. Additionally, Turkey boasts high-quality acting, with our actors delivering emotional depth through their performances, creating a strong connection with viewers. Turkish content touches on universal values and themes, offering something relatable for every culture. Turkish dramas have a large and loyal fan base worldwide, and the Turkish TV industry produces a significant number of series each year, ensuring a steady supply of fresh content. The success of Turkish dramas internationally is not only due to their quality but also to effective distribution. We have a robust distribution network with the know-how to identify and deliver the right content to the right regions and audiences. This ensures that Turkey’s successful productions from Turkey can reach international markets and continue their successful journey abroad.

What are the latest trends on the Turkish TV market and especially in drama production - what are the most popular themes explored in them?
Recently, Turkish content has seen a notable increase in the diversification of genres and themes. Central themes such as love, family sagas, love triangles, class conflicts, and the rich y culture and traditions of Turkey continue to dominate. These storylines are popular both locally and internationally. With the rise of digital platforms, there has been a surge in bold and edgy themes making their way to the screen, appealing to a broader and more diverse audience. These new productions, often designed as mini-series for digital platforms, adopt a cinematic approach, bringing fresh interpretations to classic Turkish storytelling. They tell stories from unique perspectives while preserving the essential elements of traditional Turkish drama. This evolution has enabled Turkish content to captivate a global audience, showcasing the country’s ability to innovate while staying true to its storytelling roots.

Alaa Elabasy and Salmi Gambarova, Madd Entertainment

What will be the highlights of your NATPE Budapest slate?
We’ve had a very successful season and we will be highlighting 7 titles from 2023-2024 season as well as our brand new original series produced for digital platforms and feature films.

What are your latest deals in the CEE region and internationally?
We licensed a few of our new titles such as Blooming Lady, Wild Heart and Dirty Laundry to North Macedonia, Hungary, Albania and Romania. We have some new deals in Africa for Wild Heart, My Wonderful Life and many of our new titles to CIS including Dirty Laundry, Wild Heart, The Family, Blooming Lady, The Brave and No Mercy. We also have some new deals in Spain for Blooming Lady, If You Love, Dirty Laundry, My Wonderful Life, The Brave and If You Love, Gulcemal, The Family, Family Secrets, A Miracle to Italy.

Which are your “strongest” markets and are you looking into expanding into new territories?
MENA, CEE, LATAM, Spain and Italy in Europe and CIS are our strongest markets. Though there is increasing demand and Asia and Africa, our aim is to have a strong presence in these territories.

Turkish dramas continue to be very popular around the world. To what do you attribute their longevity in terms of international demand?
Turkish dramas have universal stories that families can gather around and consume together but what really distinguishes them is the Turkish storytelling– meaning that the audience can empathize and connect with the characters in a deeply emotional way, a series of events are captured around emotions.

What are the latest trends on the Turkish TV market and especially in drama production - what are the most popular themes explored in them?
Blooming Lady has had a phenomenal performance this season and has been renewed for season two. It is the most successful title of the entire season. The reason behind this is that it is a very relatable and real story that is an inspirational feel-good drama. Turkish storytelling combined with these elements has resulted in a drama that the audience has embraced tightly, it is the awakening of the true power that lies in every woman. Having said this, there isn’t a single trend in Turkish TV market – there is the undying classical Turkish drama like Wild Heart, strong female dramas like My Wonderful Life, crime dramas like Family Secrets and many different flavors such as The Family and The Brave.

Canan Koca, Kanal D International

What will be the highlights of your NATPE Budapest slate?
We are thrilled to present a dynamic slate at NATPE Budapest this year, highlighting three of our most compelling series that have captivated audiences and garnered impressive ratings. Secret of Pearlshas been a phenomenal success since its debut in late January. This gripping series quickly rose to the top of the ratings charts and has maintained its position as a top-rated show in the Thursday primetime.

Our brand-new series, The Family Burden, which started airing at the end of May, is already performing well and generating buzz. This intense drama centers on a mother who is wrongfully imprisoned for the murder of her husband. The true story is far more complex, involving her sister’s deceit in selling her daughter to a wealthy family and presenting their own daughter as hers. As the mother emerges from prison 20 years later, a web of secrets and lies begins to unravel, promising viewers a rollercoaster of emotions and revelations.

Lastly, we are excited to reintroduceFarewell Letter, which premiered in 2023. Initially showcased at last year’s NATPE Budapest market, the series now boasts 76 commercial episodes and has been successfully sold to several countries, including Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Romania, and Latvia.

What are your latest deals in the CEE region and internationally?
One of our standout deals in the region is for the brand-new series Secret of Pearls. This series has quickly become a top-rated show and is generating significant interest in the CEE region. This series has captured audiences with its intense and emotional storyline, centering on Azem, a wrongly imprisoned father accused of killing his wife.

In addition to Secret of Pearls, we have successfully closed deals for our latest daily series, Love & Hope. It has quickly gained popularity and has already been sold to several countries in the region, reflecting its widespread appeal and engaging narrative.

Lastly, we are thrilled to highlight our brand-new primetime series, The Family Burden. This series is gaining traction and interest both regionally and internationally.

Which are your “strongest” markets and are you looking into expanding into new territories?
Our strongest markets currently include MENA, LATAM, and CEE. These regions have been pivotal to our growth and success, allowing us to connect with key industry players and expand our reach. In MENA, our high-quality dramas and family stories are particularly popular. Latin American viewers appreciate our emotional and engaging narratives, making it a key market for us. The CEE region values both traditional Turkish dramas as well as universal themes, contributing to our strong performance there. We are looking to expand into Asia, Africa, North America, and Western Europe, focusing on regions with a growing demand for diverse and high-quality international content, not only with finished versions only but also formats.

Turkish dramas continue to be very popular around the world. To what do you attribute their longevity in terms of international demand?
First, I should say that Turkish series have some of the best production qualities, which is the first thing that catches the eye. The high standards of cinematography, storytelling, and acting set them apart and make them appealing to a global audience.

Being situated between Europe and the Middle East, Turkey embodies a unique blend of cultural influences that resonate with diverse audiences. This geographical and cultural positioning allows our series to incorporate values and themes that appeal to both Western and Eastern viewers. We aren’t confined to a single cultural perspective; instead, we present a variety of insights and topics that engage a broad spectrum of viewers.

Additionally, we excel in portraying family values in our series. The significance of family plays a crucial role in many of our dramas, and this universal theme is one of the keys to our success. The depiction of strong family bonds, loyalty, and the challenges families face resonates deeply with audiences around the world, making our series relatable and emotionally compelling.

What are the latest trends on the Turkish TV market and especially in drama production - what are the most popular themes explored in them?
There are many series that try to explore new topics, such as social problems and contemporary issues. There is a trend to create something different that isn’t commonly seen by the audience. This drive to innovate and address modern societal challenges reflects the evolving nature of Turkish television and the desire to push creative boundaries.

At the same time, we also see that our audience continues to prefer watching our traditional dramas and romantic comedies. These genres remain the most popular and enduring themes in Turkish TV. Traditional dramas often highlight strong family values, love, and loyalty, resonating deeply with viewers who find comfort and familiarity in these stories. Romantic comedies, with their lighthearted and relatable narratives, provide an enjoyable escape and have consistently high appeal.

Senay Tas, Global Agency

What will be the highlights of your NATPE Budapest slate?
Our latest hit drama Red Roses is our biggest highlight. This is a drama that is very different from the stories that both the Turkish and the International audience is used to, in a positive way. While it is about the intersection of the characters’ destinies, it also draws attention to the positive power of motherhood/fatherhood when it comes to their children, despite differences of belief and opinion. We strongly believe that Red Roses will be a hit internationally.

Another highlight is Lia, My Husband’s Wife. This is a fantastic Romanian drama series, a unique love story tested by betrayals and lies, adapted from the Turkish title Never Let Go which was a hit, especially in CEE. The Romanian production company has added very nice and different twists to the story, making it more modern. Antena 1 has been airing the show since January 2023 with great results.

What are your latest deals in the CEE region and internationally?
In CEE we have closed quite a lot of deals in the last few weeks. Red Roses was sold to Serbia recently with big expectations from the channel. This is the first deal for the title in the region. Our highlight Lia, My Husband’s Wife will soon start airing in Serbia, which is very exciting for us. I’m confident that the Serbian audience will like it. We also have a new series package deal with RTL Croatia and Pro Plus Slovenia containing both current and library titles.

Our successful quiz show Joker debuted on Nova TV Croatia earlier this year and soon it will be on air in Serbia, on Nova. There are many more sales made recently and we are positive that we will continue our sales success in the region.

Which are your “strongest” markets and are you looking into expanding into new territories?
Thanks to our extensive catalog with both scripted and non-scripted content, we are actually equally strong in all countries in CEE. Czechia is a tough audience so we are putting a bit more focus there is something that we plan in the upcoming months. In general, Latin America, CIS and MENA are regions that we are strong in, but we see a rise in interest from Spain and Italy. We are always working on expanding into new territories. This is a great challenge but we believe in ourselves, since we have been able to open up territories that looked impossible a few years ago.

Turkish dramas continue to be very popular around the world. To what do you attribute their longevity in terms of international demand?
Turkish series still have a rising value and are received with great interest both in the national and international arena. It is a fact that Turkish producers are experts in presenting cultural codes in their productions and this is a big strength that makes the international audience connect with the story. These cultural codes create a universal context which is, in my view, one of the most important reasons for Turkish dramas being popular for so many years and it is why they will continue to be so. TV audiences across the world enjoy our stories, especially the melodramas which touches every ones hearts.

Another factor that plays a big role is that the producers are looking for stories that would meet the demands of viewers abroad, as well as viewers in Turkey. Our series tell stories with real emotions in real places. In this way, viewers of Turkish TV series empathize deeply with the characters in the series and become immersed in their journeys throughout many episodes.

What are the latest trends on the Turkish TV market and especially in drama production - what are the most popular themes explored in them?
In the past period, mostly dramas depicting psychological traumas have appeared on the screens in Turkey. We can say that the most popular series in 2024 tell the stories of independent and strong female characters who can stand on their own feet.

One Love, which has been the most watched TV series in the commercial demo group for the past year, is a good example of the shift that we mentioned above. Patriarchal pressures around the world can affect every woman, regardless of economic power, education level, or family background and One Love reveals this. Every woman struggles with these patriarchal pressures in some way. A common comment from female viewers who watch it is that “this series is on the side of women.” The women in this series do not bow down to violence, they stand hand in hand and upright against the ill-treatment they receive. The series, which seems like a love drama at first glance, shows that we can empathize with those “who are not like us” and raises the importance of “listening” to each other. Watching women who oppose violence and become stronger together in the series is the strongest point with which the audience empathizes.