Highlights Unveiled for Turkish Focus at MIPCOM

ISTANBUL: Home to a content export business worth more than $200 million annually, Turkey will take center stage at MIPCOM this October, with a slate of highlights that includes a screening of the follow-up to the megahit Magnificent Century.

The activities surrounding the Turkey Country of Honour focus were unveiled at a press conference in Istanbul yesterday at the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ICOC).

Ä°brahim Çağlar, president of ICOC, noted the importance of the Turkish TV business to the country’s economy in his opening remarks, pointing to TV’s ability to “mobilize other industries.”

The production sector is indeed booming, with all Turkey’s free-to-air broadcasters using their prime-time blocks for local drama, a genre referred to as “dizi”. A domestic tourism business has grown around the backdrops for some of Turkey’s biggest shows. And one of the best-known Turkish exports, the historical epic Magnificent Century, has spawned an extensive museum exhibit at Istanbul’s Uniq arts and entertainment complex. The organizers are now working to build replicas of the Magnificent Century exhibition in a number of other territories.

Kosem The Empress, a new historical epic from Magnificent Century producers Tims Productions, will be screened at MIPCOM. The show will be launched to the worldwide market by Global Agency.

The export of Turkish dramas has been rising over the last few years. Initially selling to neighboring territories and the Middle East, Turkish distributors have now been dramatically increasing their presence in Latin America. Scripted format sales are also emerging, led by NBC’s pickup of a local version of Suskunlar (Game of Silence).

TRT, Kanal D, Global Agency, ITV- Inter Medya, ATV, Calinos Entertainment and Ay Yapim are all confirmed to be taking part at MIPCOM. About 250 representatives usually come to the market from Turkey, Ted Baracos, director of market development at Reed MIDEM, said at yesterday’s press conference. “Our theme this year is New Creative Excellence. We think it’s very fitting that ‘Turkey Home of Content’ is the Country of Honour.”

Baracos discussed some of the highlights of the Turkish focus, including panel discussions, matchmaking sessions and, in conjunction with pubcaster TRT, a screening of children’s content. The opening party will also have a Turkish theme, Baracos said.