Turkish Drama Heartbeat Being Remade in Malaysia

Fox Networks Group Content Distribution (FNGCD) has secured a format deal for Heartbeat, one of the titles from its Turkish drama catalog.

3Line Media has licensed the format rights for Heartbeat (Rüzgarin Kalbi), with plans to remake the show for RTM channels across Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. FINAS, the National Film Development Corporation of Malaysia, provided 3Line Media with a grant to secure funding of the format and production is underway with a local cast.

Harris Ahmad Shah, the managing director of 3Line Media, commented: “Turkish producers are consistently creating big compelling stories with universal themes that really resonate with Asian audiences. Heartbeat is a different type of love story, beautifully told, and we are very much looking forward to remaking this FOX Turkey classic in Malaysia, showcasing our own talent and incredible scenic backdrops, as well including uniquely Malaysian cultural elements.”

Datuk Fauzi Ayob, FINAS’ director general, added: “National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS) believes that the business deal with Malaysian company 3Line Media, which has successfully acquired the format rights for FOX Turkey’s Rüzgarin Kalbi—will progressively connect Malaysia to a world looking at how Turkish TV dramas are being exponentially exported and seen by hundreds of millions of viewers around the globe.”

Julius Toh, Fox Networks Group Content Distribution’s VP of sales for Asia Pacific, commented: “Heartbeat has already been sold as a finished programme to OTV, the leading OTT platform in Thailand and Cambodia and we are also about to finalize deals with two other clients in the region so the title is starting to gain some real traction in South East Asia. The new production of Heartbeat has a fantastic team behind it in 3Line Media and the support from FINAS demonstrates a huge commitment to retelling this wonderful story.”