Inter Medya’s Can Okan on the “Turkish Formula”

Inter Medya was founded in 1992 by Can Okan as a film distribution company serving the Turkish film industry in its local market. Since then, it has grown into a production and distribution company providing buyers around the world with high-end scripted drama, formats and, most recently, micro-dramas. Okan, who serves as CEO, talks about blending beautiful locations with relatable, universal themes and offering dramas in various lengths to satisfy viewers’ and platforms’ many needs.

WS: In your view, what is the “secret sauce” that makes Turkish stories so magnetic for international audiences?
OKAN: The appeal stems from a unique “Turkish formula” that masterfully blends high-octane production values with universal emotionality. Our dramas excel at portraying themes of family, loyalty and star-crossed love—values that resonate as powerfully in Latin America as they do in the Middle East or Western Europe. Beyond the script, the cinematic approach we take is vital. By filming in breathtaking, real-life locations rather than confined sets, we provide an immersive experience that feels authentic and grand. Ultimately, the immense labor and passion behind the scenes translates directly to the screen. Global audiences aren’t just watching a story; they are connecting with deep, character-driven arcs that feel both exotic and intimately familiar. They recognize the quality, and they simply cannot remain indifferent to it.

WS: Looking back, how has the Inter Medya catalog transformed over the last decade?
OKAN: The evolution has been profound. A decade ago, our focus was almost exclusively on the traditional series—long-running series primarily tailored for linear television. Today, Inter Medya is a multi-dimensional content distributor. While we remain the champions of traditional drama, we have pioneered the “New Generation” Turkish series. These are shorter, edgier and bolder narratives specifically designed for the streaming era. We have evolved from a pure distribution house into a full-scale production powerhouse and a strategic global co-production partner. Furthermore, our feature films continue to find screens worldwide, and we have recently embraced the global micro-drama trend as both a producer and distributor. Today, we don’t just sell shows; we act as a global ambassador for Turkish creativity, representing our culture across every imaginable format.

WS: What is the current vibe of the market? What are global buyers asking for in 2026?
OKAN: We are seeing a bifurcated market. On one hand, linear broadcasters still have a healthy appetite for long-running family sagas and hidden gems with high emotional stakes. On the other hand, streaming platforms are hungry for “digestible” content—faster pacing and shorter formats built for binge-watching. Interestingly, we are seeing a hybrid trend: platforms are increasingly incorporating long-running dramas into their offerings to increase time-on-platform for subscribers. This makes our ready-made licensed content just as vital as digital originals. Geographically, we are seeing a massive surge in demand from Western Europe and a growing curiosity from the U.S. market for content that bridges the gap between traditional series and the “New Generation” series.

WS: How does Inter Medya stay ahead of buyer needs?
OKAN: Our strength lies in our adaptability. We don’t just offer off-the-shelf products; we provide strategic solutions. We cater to every window—from 100-plus episode daily sagas for traditional broadcasters to ten-episode miniseries for digital platforms. [Since] we operate across five continents, we don’t just “send” content; we provide localized marketing and distribution strategies.

WS: You’ve made headlines with your move into micro-dramas. Tell us about the strategy behind the vertical screen.
OKAN: This is our newest frontier. We recognized that the next-gen viewer consumes content in short, high-frequency bursts on mobile devices. To meet them there, we launched our first original vertical micro-drama, Boardroom to Bedroom. The response was staggering—the first episode surpassed 1.4 million views within just 12 hours. We’ve established a dedicated internal department focused solely on the production, acquisition and distribution of short-form content. What sets us apart is our agile synergy: we utilize our high-end sets and production infrastructure to film these micro-dramas simultaneously with our long-form series. This allows us to maintain big-screen production values on a mobile-screen format.