DISCOP Istanbul Goes Global

ISTANBUL: The fifth edition of DISCOP Istanbul kicked off today with organizers reporting a total registration of 1,013—and that’s despite the loss of the Iraqi contingent, with the exception of the delegates from state broadcaster Al Iraqiya, after all today’s flights were canceled, which maybe explains the confidence that this year will finally top out 2014’s edition.

Speaking to World Screen Newsflash on the first day, Patrick Zuzchowicki, the general manager of Basic Lead—organizers with Globus Fairs of DISCOP Istanbul—was “delighted” with the significant increase in registrations from the MENA region. He is also “very excited by the number of buyers attending, for the first time, from South America, Western Europe and Asia, many attending as part of a hosted buyers program sponsored by the Turkish government, which,” insists Zuchowicki, “demonstrates a clear desire on the part of the government to turn Istanbul, and DISCOP Istanbul, into a major regional hub for the global television business.”

And "global" is indeed the buzz word on the floor of the Lufti Kirdar Convention Centre, where the market is held.

Global Agency, which CEO Izzet Pinto claims “is now the largest independent distributor in the world”—a claim he bases on reported sales of “over 2,000 hours of content every year to in excess of 90 countries”—used DISCOP Istanbul for the (it’s that word again) global launch of its new format It’s Showtime, which Pinto describes as “a talent show with a difference: the contestants judge each other!” Adding, “and the other big difference is that these guys can sing!”

When World Screen Newsflash caught up with him three hours after the presentation, he reported “serious negotiations with several major broadcasters” to be already well advanced. He also revealed, for the first time, that Global Agency will be debuting eight new formats and four new series at MIPTV in April.

Mehmet Demirhan, the deputy head of the TV department, acquisitions, sales and co-productions at Turkish pubcaster TRT, was not only another one talking global, but also talking change. “Turkish drama,” Demirhan points out, “has for years been known for daily soaps, but we are looking to change that with a major production commitment to miniseries, TV movies and feature films.”

In evidence of this he points to the production of 50 TV movies with the New York Film Academy. TRT and the Academy received more than 900 applications for funding, and the final 50 will get the greenlight announcement at a gala party Thursday night. Demirhan also touts four international feature-film co-productions with partners coming from Germany, Ireland, Syria and Bosnia-Herzgovenia, as well as “sales of new miniseries to over 30 territories.”

Asked what is the motivation behind these developments, Demirhan tells World Screen Newsflash, “these developments are important if the growth in sales of Turkish drama is to be sustainable, globally.”

Five years ago the sale of one Turkish series, Gumus, to the MENA region was a major regional story—they’re thinking a lot bigger than that these days in Istanbul.