Turkish television industry economic crisis

The Turkish television industry is facing a severe economic crisis characterized by a sharp decline in advertising revenues. In October, advertising income for television channels reportedly fell to its lowest level in 30 years, with channels filling only about 60 percent of standard advertising time per hour.

To manage rising production costs, which range between 350,000 and 550,000 euros per episode, broadcasters are implementing cost-cutting measures. These include requesting 25 percent discounts from production companies, reducing episode durations, and potentially eliminating second crews on sets. Several popular series have already faced delays or temporary removals from the air.

Murat Yancı, TV Group President of Demirören Medya, has warned that the crisis could lead to the total removal of television series from broadcasts. Yancı attributed the instability to the inability to cover costs through current advertising models and highlighted unfair competition from digital platforms. He noted that while traditional television faces strict regulations and provides free content, digital platforms operate with fewer restrictions and utilize paid subscription models.