28.08.2026 14:51
Presidency's Director of Communications Burhanettin Duran announced striking figures regarding the global reach of Turkish TV series. Stating that Turkish productions have reached over 1 billion viewers in more than 170 countries, Duran said that the export of TV series, which was around $10 million at the beginning of the 2000s, has now exceeded $1 billion.
Turkish TV series continue to reach audiences around the world. Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran shared important data on the sector's achievements at the program "The Global Narrative of the Turkish Brand: Turkish TV Series" organized by the Presidential Directorate of Communications in Ataşehir.
Duran noted that Turkey is among the top three largest TV series exporters in the world, drawing attention to the global impact of Turkish productions.
OVER 1 BILLION VIEWERS IN MORE THAN 170 COUNTRIES
According to the information provided by Duran, Turkish TV series today reach a global audience of over 1 billion in more than 170 countries.
The change in the sector's economic size also drew attention. Turkish TV series exports, which were around $10 million in the early 2000s, have now exceeded $1 billion.
Duran said this success did not happen by chance and that the sector reached its current level through great effort.
5,000 FOREIGNERS ASKED: 81% POINTED TO TV SERIES
The impact of Turkish TV series is not limited to viewership and export figures.
Duran also shared the results of the field research conducted in partnership with the Yunus Emre Institute and RTÜK. He said that 81% of the 5,000 foreign participants learning Turkish started their journey of learning Turkish by watching Turkish TV series.
Stating that various research studies also show that TV series increase the desire to learn Turkish in different parts of the world, Duran expressed that these productions also fuel interest in Turkish products, tourism in Turkey, and Turkish culture.
"TURKEY IS NO LONGER A DISTANT COUNTRY SEEN ON THE MAP"
Duran said that a Turkish TV series reaching a family in Damascus, a living room in Rabat, a home in Belgrade, or a viewer in Santiago or Johannesburg plays an important role in promoting Turkey.
He drew attention to the fact that through TV series, the streets of Istanbul, the Bosphorus, Anatolian cities, tables, family relationships, Turkish music, and the Turkish language enter the daily lives of millions of people.
Stating that they do not see the rise of Turkish TV series as a "matter of establishing hegemony," Duran expressed that their aim is for Turkey to produce its own story and bring it together with different societies.
"THE STORY OF HUMANITY CANNOT BE LEFT TO THE CAMERAS OF A FEW CENTERS"
Noting that in the past, the Middle East and Turkey were often portrayed through certain stereotypes in Western productions, Duran emphasized the importance of Turkish productions being able to tell their own story.
Duran said, "Just as the fate of humanity cannot be left to the decisions of a few centers, the story of humanity cannot be left to the cameras of a few centers."
Stating that the rise of Turkish TV series is not only a soft power success for Turkey, Duran evaluated this as part of the transition from a unipolar global narrative order to a multi-polar world story.
MESSAGE OF "FAMILY AND VALUES" TO PRODUCERS
In his speech, Duran also called on representatives of the TV series sector. He requested sensitivity towards Turkish culture, family structure, and social values in productions.
Stating that they consider valuable the stories that highlight family, solidarity, loyalty between spouses, brotherhood, neighborliness, and friendship, Duran said this does not mean limiting creativity.
Expressing that they expect bolder and more original stories from the sector, Duran called for turning to Anatolia's treasure trove of stories, history, cities, literature, and people, instead of constantly repeating the same stories.