Turkish Dizi Exports and Ratings Wars — 2026-09-08
Warner Bros. Discovery has struck a major scripted content deal with Turkey’s Doğuş Media Group, signaling continued strong international demand for Turkish drama exports. Domestically, the new season ratings battle intensified this week, with ATV’s *Altı Üstü İstanbul* dominating viewership on Monday while sports broadcasts challenged fictional programming on Sunday. Meanwhile, French audiovisual exports faced a significant decline, contrasting with the robust trajectory of Turkish series which continue to expand their global footprint through new licensing deals in North Africa and Latin America.
Turkish Dizi Exports and Ratings Wars — 2026-09-08
Top developments
Warner Bros. Discovery Partners with Doğuş Media for Scripted Content
On September 3, 2026, Deadline reported that Warner Bros. Discovery and Doğuş Media Group have entered into a partnership to "supercharge" Turkish scripted shows. This deal is significant for the export market as it involves one of the largest global media conglomerates directly engaging with a key Turkish production powerhouse. Such collaborations often lead to higher production values and wider international distribution channels for Turkish dramas, reinforcing Türkiye's position as a top exporter of television content.
Eccho Rights Licenses Three Dramas to Moroccan Broadcaster Alshana
In a move highlighting the steady demand for Turkish content in North Africa, Eccho Rights announced on September 7, 2026, that it has licensed three Turkish dramas to the Moroccan broadcaster Alshana. This transaction underscores the ongoing strength of the Turkish dizi model in regions where cultural proximity and affordable high-quality content drive broadcaster decisions. For Turkish producers, these regional deals provide stable revenue streams that complement larger streaming platform acquisitions.
Domestic Ratings: Sports vs. Fiction in the Weeknight Battle
The 2026-2027 TV season has kicked off with fierce competition. On Sunday, September 6, 2026, the drama Daha 17 led the "Total" audience group, but the Italy-Turkey volleyball match took the top spot in the more lucrative AB and 20+ABC1 demographics, illustrating the challenge live sports pose to scripted programming. However, by Monday, September 7, 2026, ATV’s Altı Üstü İstanbul reclaimed the number one position across all major rating categories (Total, AB, ABC1), outperforming MasterChef Türkiye and other competitors.
Local view
Local media outlets such as Medya Faresi and Yeni Ankara are closely tracking the early-season performance of new entries like Tuzlu Kahve (Star TV) and established hits like Gönül Dağı (TRT 1). Diziler.com reported that on Saturday, September 5, 2026, Gönül Dağı maintained its strong lead in the Total category, followed closely by the new entry Mercan Köşk on ATV, indicating that audiences are still loyal to proven formats even as new shows launch. The local press emphasizes that while sports events can disrupt ratings on specific nights, consistent weekly performance from dramas remains the primary metric for network executives deciding on renewals or cancellations.
Context & numbers
While specific export revenue figures for late 2026 were not available in the immediate search results, recent historical data cited in industry reports indicates that Turkish TV exports have exceeded $1 billion in cumulative reach metrics and generated over $500 million annually in recent years. The contrast with France is stark: French audiovisual exports fell 21.6% to €164.3 million ($192.2 million) in recent reporting, marking a decade low amid economic headwinds. This decline in a traditional competitor like France may open further opportunities for Turkish producers to capture market share in European and African territories.
On the radar
- New Season Launches: Approximately 22 new series are scheduled to premiere in the 2026-2027 season, including high-profile casts in comedies like Tuzlu Kahve and dramas like Haysiyet.
- RTÜK Regulations: The Turkish Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) continues to monitor content compliance, with recent warnings issued to broadcasters regarding violence and value systems in prime-time dramas.
- Netflix Expansion: Following the recent acquisition of Fatmagül rights for Latin America, attention will turn to which other catalog titles Netflix may acquire for its global platforms as it seeks to maintain subscriber growth with diverse international content.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
Powered by
