Istanbul: Nearly 1 billion people in close to 170 countries regularly watch Turkish TV series.
According to Anadolu Agency, Trkiye's Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy highlighted the sector as a significant and growing component of the national economy and a key instrument of international cultural influence during a press conference on TV and mini-series projects coordinated by the Turkish Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA).
Ersoy elaborated that Trkiye has adopted a digital promotion strategy centered on short-format series, framing tourism as an experience shaped by storytelling, emotion, and lifestyle rather than destination alone. Trkiye ranks first globally in the number of TV series episodes produced annually and is among the world's three largest television industries, alongside the US and the UK, in terms of sales and export power. Turkish series attract audiences from Latin America to the Middle East and from Europe to Asia, with particularly strong viewership in France, Spain, and Italy, and growing audiences in Northern Europe.
Revenue from TV series exports has exceeded $1 billion, marking it as Trkiye's most effective soft-power instrument. Ersoy emphasized that Turkish TV series serve as the world's largest Turkish language course, akin to Hollywood's influence on the spread of English.
Trkiye has integrated series into its international promotion through the innovative 'TGA Series' concept, producing story-driven mini-series for digital platforms featuring well-known actors. Projects such as Antalya Gambit, Istanbul My Love, Hidden Lover, and An Istanbul Story are utilized to showcase cities, culture, and daily life to global audiences. Actors, producers, and crews view their participation as 'wearing a national jersey,' reflecting a shared promotional purpose.
Ersoy noted that Trkiye has reshaped its tourism policy with a diverse and sustainable model, offering more than 60 tourism products. The TGA, established six years ago, now conducts digital promotion activities in nearly 200 countries. The GoTrkiye platform has become a global hub, broadcasting in 10 languages, with 21.3 million followers across platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. To date, 143 commercials and over 100 promotional films have been produced through TGA, reaching 31.5 billion screenings and 11 billion views worldwide.
Two recently released mini-series reached 2.93 billion impressions, with Hidden Lover drawing 251 million and An Istanbul Story 156 million, supported by internationally recognized Turkish actors. Leading production companies such as Ay Yapim and Med Yapim are central to the promotional strategy due to their international networks.
In addition, Ersoy announced a new support program for the TV series sector, stating that eligible productions will receive ministry backing. Restored ancient cities and archaeological sites will be opened as filming locations under the Heritage for the Future Project, positioning Trkiye as 'the world's most powerful stage.'