Turkey's drama export exceeds $150 million

ISTANBUL - Anadolu Agency

Since the middle of the 2000s, Turkish production companies came to the forefront in the production of television programs and became capable to compete in world cinema.

The Turkish drama sector, which is gradually increasing its production and technical capacity, is drawing interest around the world. Turkish productions are being broadcast in more than 50 countries. By the end of last year, the drama sector brought $150 million in export input to the country. 

According to information provided by the Prime Ministry Office for Public Diplomacy (KDK), until 10 years ago, Turkey was importing cinema films and TV dramas, as well as almost all formats for entertainment and competition programs abroad. 

Since the middle of the 2000s, Turkish production companies came to the forefront in the production of television programs and became capable to compete in world cinema thanks to its rich content and technical infrastructure. Almost all Turkish television channels broadcast over 100 new productions a year and offer Turkish productions to the audience. 

The Turkish drama sector, which comes to the forefront in the international market, draws great interest from audiences from all around the world from the Middle East to the Balkans and from Central Asia to South America. Turkish dramas are among the most watched programs in the countries in which they are being broadcast. They also make great contribution to Turkey’s image abroad as a significant tool of “soft power.” 

New countries

More than 70 Turkish dramas are being exported to 54 countries and for the first time in 2013, the Turkish drama sector entered the Ukrainian, Pakistani, Russian and Chinese markets. Among the most popular Turkish dramas around the world are “Muhteşem Yüzyıl “(Magnificent Century), “Fatmagül’ün Suçu Ne” (What is Fatmagül’s Fault), “Adını Feriha Koydum” (I Named Her Feriha) and “Aşk-ı Memnu” (Forbidden Love). The final episode of “Gümüş” (Noor), which tops the most-watched Turkish dramas list around the world, was seen by 84 million people in the Middle East. 

According to data provided by the Culture and Tourism Ministry, Turkish dramas were sold at a price between $35 and $50 per episode. Today, these prices vary between $500 and $200,000 per episode. By the end of 2013, Turkey’s annual drama export exceeded $150 million. 

Among the countries where Turkish dramas are being broadcasted are Afghanistan, Germany, Albania, Austria, Azerbaijan, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Algeria, Czech Republic, Indonesia, China, Estonia, Morocco, Georgia, Croatia, Iraq, Iran, Sweden, Switzerland, Japan, Qatar, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Kosovo, Kuwait, Uzbekistan, Libya, Lithuania, Lebanon, Hungary, Macedonia, Malaysia, Egypt, Pakistan, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Syria, Thailand, Taiwan, Greece and others.