Turkish TV series aim to conquer Far East

ISTANBUL

Turkish TV series, among the country’s most lucrative exports in recent years, will now be promoted in the Far East, following their success in the Middle East and Latin America. 

The Culture and Tourism Ministry in collaboration with the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, will promote Turkish TV series at this week’s Asia TV Forum in Singapore. 

The forum is the Far East’s largest content fair, with more than 5,000 professional participants attending the Asia TV Forum scheduled to be held between Dec. 6 and 9. 

The export of Turkish TV series began in 2001 in the Balkans, Middle East and Latin America, and skyrocketed over time. By the end of 2014, the export figure was $200 million and increased to $250 million last year.

 This year the export figure is thought to be around $300 million.

Nearly 150 Turkish TV series have been sold abroad so far, reaching 500 million viewers in more than 100 countries in the Middle East and North Africa, Eastern and Western Europe, Asia and America. 

According to the Culture and Tourism Ministry, Turkey is today the world’s second highest exporter of TV series after the United States. Among the most popular series are “Binbir Gece” (One Thousands and One Nights), “Fatmagül’ün Suçu Ne?” (What is Fatmagül’s Fault?), “Ezel,” “Kara Para Aşk” (Black Money Love), “Sıla,” “Yaprak Dökümü” (Fallen Leaves), and “Aşk-ı Memnu” (Forbidden Love). 

Academics to speak on Turkish TV series 

The series have come to play a significant role in promoting Turkey abroad, creating a secondary effect of stirring tourists’ interest in visiting the country. This has prompted officials to search for and create new markets for the industry to serve.  

The Asia TV Forum will for the first time have a Turkish stand where producers will have the opportunity to promote and sell their works. Foreign investors will also be introduced to filmmaking locations in Turkey, also home to nature scenes used when shooting films.
 
As part of the fair’s official program, a panel titled “The Charm of Turkish Content,” will be held. The panel will feature academics from some of Turkey’s top universities, the sector’s leading distributors, producers and script writers, who will deliver speeches on the global successes of the Turkish TV series phenomena.