Netflix, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Up the Ante in Turkish TV Production and Storytelling

variety.com:

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentThe Turkish TV market is being shaken up by the arrival of more U.S. streaming platforms, which are driving up production costs, but also providing a new burst of opportunity for talent, content creators and producers.Netflix, which launched in Turkey in 2016, is the country’s streaming market leader when it comes to subs — said by insiders to be just shy of 7 million — and in terms of its local originals’ output.Disney Plus, which is expected to bow this summer, is busy mounting multiple Turkish productions that are still being kept under wraps, while HBO Max just entered the market and is also active in production.Amazon Prime Video is also expected to start churning out Turkish originals in 2023. “Disney Plus is investing in Turkey like there is no tomorrow,” says Ahmet Ziyalar, chief of Istanbul-based sales and production company Inter Medya.He adds that the Mouse House is “paying incredible amounts to [Turkish] talent, including writers, directors and actors.“They are signing contracts with everyone, very aggressively,” Ziyalar says.The streamers’ onslaught in Turkey is also making it tough to find not just reasonably priced talent, but also crews and technical equipment.Disney Plus did not respond to a request for comment about its Turkish operations.In February, WarnerMedia announced the appointment of Nermin Eroğlu, a former exec at production powerhouse Ay Yapim and broadcaster Kanal D, to handle development and production for HBO Max’s Turkish originals, none of which have yet been announced.The fact that streamers are paying very high talent fees is clearly causing production costs to skyrocket.