30 Turkey: How to Win the Hearts and Wallets of the World’s TV Buyers Power, romance, betrayal, ambition — the ingredients of hit Turkish dramas are familiar to audiences worldwide. But getting those stories from Istanbul to international screens requires an equally compelling business savvy. From October 12 to 15, 2026, Turkey’s powerhouse international TV distribution companies will once again gather in Cannes for MIPCOM, bringing their signature content to consumers of TV content across the globe. Can Okan, founder and CEO of Inter Medya, said, “We are bringing a very strong and varied lineup to MIPCOM this year. Our top highlights include one of this season’s new hits, Black Sea, My Love (Sevdam Karadeniz), our brand-new co-production Caged Love (Tutsak Sevda), while Halef has made an explosive return with its highly anticipated second season, and more. “In addition to our flagship dramas, we are placing a major strategic focus on our expanding portfolio of vertical dramas and new miniseries, reflecting our commitment to innovative content formats,” Okan added. Kanal D is highlighting its new drama series Dignity (Haysiyet), which Elif Tatoglu, Kanal D’s Distribution Strategy and Sales director, reported, “has that classic Turkish drama feeling, but at the same time the story and characters feel very fresh.” The company is also showcasing Torn Apart and Sins and Roses, which, like much other Turkish content, “has already had a very strong international journey and continues to perform well across different territories.” Izzet Pinto, the founder and CEO of Global Agency, said his company is toting a “very strong new format, which we are particularly excited about.” Drama and mystery being top-of-mind, Pinto reported that the “title will remain a secret until MIPCOM, but we can already reveal that it is a unique competition format built around music.” The format will have its official unveiling at MIPCOM. Global Agency is also pushing dramas such as One Love. “Drama has always been a major part of Global Agency’s international success… At the same time, we have a long history in formats, and we see great potential to grow this side of our business even further.” Pinto added that Global Agency will introduce several new titles at MIPCOM, “making this year’s market an important starting point for our upcoming slate.” ATV Distribution is showcasing Different Lives, Villa Coral, Love and Throne, Land of the Sun, and the second season of A.B.I. (A Broken Inheritance). According to MediaHub’s Elif Turna, the company’s Sales and Business Development manager, “We wanted this year’s lineup to feel fresh, diverse, and full of stories that buyers can discover.” Some of the company’s biggest highlights are Close to You, Take My Hand, and Roses. These are three new Turkish dramas that “bring different shades of romance, family relationships, and emotional conflict to our slate.” The company is also presenting productions such as Bitter Justice and Alaca, as well as a “growing international catalog, spanning Korean, Greek, Filipino, Spanish, and Dutch productions, and factual entertainment.” Calinos Entertainment’s deputy general manager, Ismail Dursunov, said the company’s catalog has become “increasingly diverse.” He added, “Alongside Turkish dramas, we represent international content from Europe, Canada, and the Spanish-speaking market, so naturally, we work with buyers from many different parts of the world.” Highlights of Calinos Entertainment’s slate include two new Turkish dramas, Salted Love and Love in the Ashes, as well as Ugly, which has a second season available and, according to Dursunov, “has been one of the strongest titles in our current slate.” In fact, Calinos Entertainment has planned a special event surrounding Ugly. On the second day of MIPCOM, the company is hosting a press conference featuring the cast and directors, who will meet with members of the international press to discuss the “series, the characters, and their experience working on the show,” Dursunov reported. A special event celebrating Ugly is also planned for that evening. “Having the cast and creative team with us in Cannes gives us a valuable opportunity to introduce the series more closely to our international partners,” explained Dursunov. Global Agency is also hosting a special, exclusive screening at a cinema for 80 select guests, where its new format will be introduced for the first time. According to Pinto, “A format has never been launched at MIPCOM with a cinema screening before, so we wanted to create a different and memorable experience. At Global Agency, we always try to bring creativity not only to the content we represent, but also to the way we present to the international market.” Inter Medya’s Okan reported that his company’s presence at MIPCOM this year will be “both commercial and thought-leadership By Sara Alessi (Continued on Page 32) Calinos Entertainment’s Ismail Dursunov ATV Distribution’s Müge Akar Global Agency’s Izzet Pinto VIDEOAGE October 2026 Focus at MIPCOM
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