Turkish TV shows to enter Chinese market

According to industry insiders, Turkish television dramas, which aired in nearly 170 countries in 2023, are now poised to enter the Chinese market. 

Izzet Pinto, the CEO of Global Agency, a distributor of Turkish TV content, has emphasized how the Chinese market is a prestigious platform for Turkish TV shows to make their mark. 

During an interview with Xinhua last Wednesday, he expressed his belief that Chinese viewers would welcome Turkish dramas for their family-friendly storylines. 

"Turkish TV series are devoid of any intense violent or explicit scenes. This is likely a key reason why they are frequently broadcast during prime time in numerous countries, attracting millions of viewers," Pinto remarked.

According to Pinto, export earnings from Turkish TV series amounted to $680 million in 2023, with a target of $800 million set for 2024. 

Turkish industry representatives have already commenced promoting TV series in China, actively engaging in industry exhibitions to establish connections with Chinese buyers. 

Recently, Fatih Aksoy, the leader of the Entertainment and Culture Service Committee of the Service Exporters' Association, informed journalists that around 60-70 TV series are produced annually in Türkiye. 

Aksoy highlighted that productions focusing on the stories of female characters, particularly, achieve notable global success. 

"Our TV series' next goal is to break into the Chinese market and we are confident they will thrive there as well," Aksoy stated, echoing Pinto's sentiments. 

According to Mehmet Bozdag, a producer and screenwriter, foreign fans of Turkish TV dramas often desire to travel to Türkiye and visit the shows' filming locations. 

In response to this interest, Bozdag Film Plateaus in Istanbul, where famous Turkish TV series were filmed, opened its doors to visitors in June last year and has welcomed over 50,000 tourists. 

Bozdag informed the state-owned Anadolu Agency that to attract potential Chinese viewers, efforts are being made to showcase the country and its culture, to host 1 million visitors in the upcoming years. 

Referring to data from Parrot Analytics, a research firm, NTV broadcaster reported that the global demand for Turkish TV series surged by 184% between 2020 and 2023, with a rising interest in the Middle East, Europe and Latin America. 

Source: Newsroom