Turkish soap opera sector plans to hit $1 billion in exports by 2023

CANNES - Anadolu Agency

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Turkey’s TV series sector plans to increase its annual export volume to $1 billion in 2023 from around $350 million by adding new regions such as South Asia and East Asia to its export markets. 

“Turkey’s soap opera sector has reached $350 million in exports from almost zero in just a decade. It is not difficult for the sector to increase this amount to $1 billion. Turkey will easily achieve this goal if it gets legal and financial support,” said Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (İTO) Board Member İhsan Soylu. 

Citing specific measures that could be taken, Soylu said the sector will grow further if bureaucratic obstacles are removed, especially in production stages, and if municipalities decrease their rents for soap opera shootings.

He was speaking as the vice president of the İTO MIPCOM Executive Committee at the MIPCOM Fair in Cannes, where Turkey was the honorary guest country last year. Japan is the honorary guest of the 32nd MIPCOM Fair this year. 

İTO Board Member Mahmut Özden said the sector planned to open to South Asia and East Asia in the coming period, noting that he would attend the Asian TV Forum (ATF) in Singapore in December in line with this goal. 

The popularity of Turkish television series has skyrocketed over the last decade, particularly in Middle Eastern and southern European countries, and they are now exported to over 100 countries. Turkish soap operas are currently very popular in the Balkans, Europe, the Middle East, the Turkic republics and Latin America. 

One particular success story has been “The Magnificent Century,” which focuses on the life of the 16th century Ottoman Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent. The show has proved hugely popular both in Turkey and internationally, being broadcast in 43 countries and watched by over 200 million people.