Turkey Unveils Huge Incentive for Global TV Series

The Turkish government is preparing to roll out a major incentive program to boost the global reach of its television industry. Under the new initiative, producers of TV series that promote Turkey, its language, and its tourism appeal will be eligible for substantial financial backing.

Speaking at a press conference, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced, “We will provide support of up to the equivalent of 100,000 US dollars in Turkish lira per episode for our TV series broadcast abroad. The funding will be channeled through the General Directorate of Cinema and the Turkey Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA).

The move signals a strategic effort to leverage the international success of Turkish television dramas—known globally as “dizi”—to strengthen the country’s cultural influence and drive tourism growth.

Turkish Series Reach 170 Countries

Turkish television productions have become a global phenomenon. Today, they are broadcast in approximately 170 countries, spanning continents from Asia and Africa to Europe and the Americas. According to data from Parrot Analytics, worldwide demand for Turkish series surged by 184 percent between 2020 and 2023.

Minister Ersoy described Turkish series as a “global brand that touches the lives of nearly one billion people across approximately 170 countries, spanning a vast geography from Asia to America, and from Africa to Europe.”

He further emphasized Turkey’s growing commercial strength in the industry. “Currently, Turkey has become one of the world’s top three television industries in terms of sales and export power,” he said.

Export revenues from Turkish television content surpassed $1 billion last year, marking what Ersoy called a historic milestone. “Our sector has recently surpassed a historic threshold,” he added, noting that Turkey’s television exports now compete alongside those of the United States and the United Kingdom in global appeal.

Criteria for State Support

The newly announced subsidies will not be automatic. Authorities will evaluate productions based on specific cultural and commercial benchmarks. The series must actively promote Turkey and the Turkish language and align with priority tourism markets identified by officials.

Among the factors to be considered are the number of countries where a series is sold, total sales revenue, audience ratings, and overall viewership performance. Productions broadcast in at least ten countries across three continents will receive special consideration for state support.

The government also plans to streamline administrative processes for qualifying productions. “As the ministry, we will provide significant facilitation to our sector, such as accelerating bureaucratic procedures related to filming locations and the use of historical and cultural sites free of charge,” Ersoy stated.

By easing access to filming permits and offering historical venues at no cost, authorities aim to lower production expenses while encouraging the showcasing of Turkey’s architectural and cultural heritage.

Screen Tourism and Strategic Branding

At the heart of the initiative is the concept of “screen tourism”—travel inspired by television and film productions. Countries such as South Korea, Spain, and the United Kingdom have successfully used popular series to attract millions of visitors to filming locations. Turkish officials now seek to replicate and expand this model.

Screen tourism operates as a form of soft power, shaping international perceptions and stimulating economic activity. When viewers develop emotional connections with characters and storylines, they often become curious about the real-world settings portrayed on screen. This connection can translate into increased tourist arrivals, hotel bookings, and local investment.

For Turkey, whose tourism sector remains a cornerstone of economic growth, the potential multiplier effect is significant. By linking cultural exports directly to tourism promotion, the government is integrating entertainment policy into a broader economic strategy.

Historical Dramas and Cultural Identity

A significant portion of Turkish television exports consists of historical fiction. Series depicting the Ottoman era, including narratives centered on rulers such as Suleiman the Magnificent, have attracted large audiences across the Middle East, Latin America, Eastern Europe, and parts of Asia.

These productions often blend palace intrigue, romance, and political drama while highlighting Turkey’s imperial past. Analysts suggest that such storytelling reinforces cultural prestige and enhances Turkey’s visibility in regions with historical or cultural ties to the Ottoman legacy.

While interpretations of this strategy vary, there is little doubt that historical dramas have become a cornerstone of Turkey’s international media identity.

A Billion-Dollar Industry with Growing Ambitions

The Turkish television industry’s rise has been swift and sustained. From modest beginnings in domestic programming, it has evolved into a billion-dollar export sector with significant geopolitical and economic implications.

By introducing per-episode subsidies of up to $100,000, Ankara is effectively doubling down on an already successful formula. The financial support, combined with administrative facilitation and targeted market criteria, signals a long-term commitment to expanding Turkey’s global media footprint.

As competition intensifies in the global streaming era, Turkish producers are positioning themselves not only as entertainment providers but also as ambassadors of culture and tourism.