Opportunities Created as a Wind of Change Blows Through DISCOP Istanbul

ISTANBUL: During the second day of DISCOP Istanbul, World Screen Newsflash spoke with a range of executives regarding the changing norms of Turkish television.

DISCOP Istanbul is becoming a dual-purpose market. For locals, especially Turkish producers, it is a valuable opportunity to be outward looking and expand the reach of a country bubbling over with ambition and creativity. For those from outside the region, it is a great chance to develop relationships in markets growing in importance.

Facundo Bailez, format sales exec at British mini-major all3media, is clear as to the attraction. “DISCOP Istanbul,” he asserts, “is the perfect time to see the majority of Turkish broadcasters and producers all together in one place and to immerse oneself in the fascinating world that is the Turkish content industry.” Bailez is especially pleased that, as he notes, “Gogglebox’s airing on Star is a very positive development and has definitely opened up room for some more innovative formats that don’t necessarily fit the Turkish TV norms.”

Also not necessarily fitting Turkish TV norms are many channels on offer from SPI International, and, in particular, FunBox Ultra HD 4K, which (as the name suggests) is the ultimate offering in Ultra HD 4K. Sales director for MEA, Murat Muratoglu, and business development manager, Veronika Kurdiova, told World Screen Newsflash that, although not due to debut until some time in Q2 2015, the company has already upped more than 50 films from HD to Ultra HD 4K and the putative channel had been generating “fantastic interest at DISCOP” because, as Muratoglu explained, “consumers are really taking to 4K Ultra HD sets—but as yet there isn’t the content offering to meet this new demand.”

But breaking the mould of recent Turkish television norms is not the exclusive preserve of international players—the Turks are busy doing just that themselves, and with no little style and razzmatazz!

Filinta, a production of E/S Films for TRT, debuted at this market jointly sold by TRT and leading Turkish distributor ITV-Inter Medya. It is described by Ahmet Ziyalar, ITV-Inter Medya's managing director, as, “a 19th century Turkish Sherlock Holmes.” Filinta is shot in the largest studio in Europe. To celebrate the market debut of this groundbreaking series, ITV-Inter Medya took DISCOP delegates, the day before the opening of DISCOP Istanbul, on a three-hour tour of the studio and sets, recreating for them some of the thrilling action and powerful love scenes from the series.

Then, at the end of the first market day, the cast of the hit series joined the contingent of DISCOP Istanbul for ITV-Inter Medya’s ‘unofficial opening night party’ at the Sofa Hotel.  

The success and international appeal of Turkish series such as Filinta is starting to have an impact on some of the nearby markets, according to Berta Orozco, sales executive for Western Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Colombian producer/distributor Caracol. Although acknowledging that “it is still the case that Turks almost always want to purchase the right to adapt, while the majority of the rest of the region are looking for pickups,” she nonetheless insists, “this is starting to change and the region as a whole is definitely moving to format deals.”