This time, Inter Medya’s team joins EPISODE, and not just one, but three key figures come together for the conversation. Can Okan (Founder and CEO), Hasret Özcan (President), and Sinem Alışkan (Senior Sales and Communication Manager) give us a full look at how 2025 has been shaping up so far.
They take us through recent licensing deals, new partnerships with iZen Group’s Zebra Producciones and Turkish streaming platform Exxen, and what’s next for the company. Inter Medya shows no signs of slowing down!
They also highlighted Eshref Ruya, the latest drama from their longtime partners TIMS&B, already a local hit and quickly gaining international attention, with several deals close to being finalized. With Inter Medya heading to both NEM Dubrovnik and NATPE Budapest, it’s a great chance to meet the team in person and explore everything they’ve got coming up in their growing catalog.
We last spoke just before Content Americas 2025. Could you give us a quick recap of this year’s edition? We know the region is key for Turkish content, and Inter Medya has built some of the strongest and longest-standing relationships in the market.
Can Okan: Yes, we began the year with Content Americas as our first market. It was a particularly important event for us, where we announced several new deals and projects. We kicked off 2025 by unveiling our latest co-production, Heartstrings. Content Americas is one of the most strategic markets for us throughout the year, offering a valuable opportunity to meet with our partners in Latin America. This year’s edition proved to be highly productive, and the results we received were overwhelmingly positive. Latin America continues to be a key market for Inter Medya. Our titles are consistently sold across the region, and nearly every title launched becomes one of the most-watched shows in the territories where it airs. In order to sustain this momentum, we maintain an intensive and targeted marketing strategy across the region. Over time, we’ve built very strong and long-term partnerships here. We do not foresee the popularity of Turkish content in Latin America fading any time soon, and we remain just as excited and motivated as ever to continue serving this market with new content and business models.
2024 was a very successful year for Inter Medya, with Valley of Hearts making its debut and Love and Pride and Deception continuing their international journeys. Now, in the first half of 2025, you’re clearly building on that success. How is the year looking so far?
Hasret Özcan: Following a highly successful 2024, we have entered 2025 with sustained momentum and a strategic focus on strengthening our global footprint. The first half of the year has been marked by a series of key milestones that have reinforced Inter Medya’s position as one of the foremost international distributors of Turkish content. Our hit drama Valley of Hearts continues to resonate with global audiences, having recently been licensed to Mediaset in Italy and Mega in Chile. Alongside it, Love and Pride and Deception have further expanded their international journeys. Deception has achieved outstanding ratings in Italy, consistently outperforming local productions, and has generated widespread acclaim across Latin America, most recently, the final episode in Panama drew millions of viewers. These results highlight not only the universal appeal of our titles but also the strength of our distribution strategy. In-flight entertainment has also emerged as a dynamic growth channel for us. Strategic partnerships remain at the core of our business model. In early 2025, we announced our latest co-production, Heartstrings, and we are proud to be working closely with iZen Group’s Zebra Producciones on the development of original content for Spanish-speaking territories, including Spain, Mexico, and the U.S. Hispanic market. These alliances reflect our commitment to creative expansion, and we are currently in advanced discussions on several new co-productions we look forward to announcing soon. We’ve also made significant progress in diversifying our content offering. Through our newly announced partnership with Exxen, we’ve added eight Turkish mini-series to our international slate. At the same time, we are placing greater emphasis on New Media sales, beyond traditional TV drama and film, to respond to shifting viewer habits and platform trends. We actively monitor demand, identify emerging sales verticals, and position ourselves to stay one step ahead in an evolving global landscape. To support this growth, we are expanding our team with talent equipped to lead in these evolving segments, investing in marketing, and participating in key industry events that align with our forward-looking vision. Format sales are also a priority, and we are increasing investments in this area to further amplify our global impact. In summary, the first half of 2025 reflects our continued commitment to strategic growth, creative innovation, and international collaboration.
I’d like to begin with Eshref Ruya. The series is only a few episodes in but already doing very well in Türkiye. I personally really enjoy it and feel it will resonate with Turkish drama audiences worldwide. How would you describe the series?
Can Okan: Yes, Eshref Ruya is undoubtedly one of the standout titles of the season. It’s a remarkable series that once again showcases TIMS&B Productions’ production expertise and their unique ability to create content that resonates with both local and global audiences. The series has consistently ranked as the most-watched TV drama across all demographic groups on its broadcast night, while also achieving millions of views on YouTube in a remarkably short time. This level of success is no coincidence, it’s a clear reflection of the dedication, talent, and strength behind the camera, all of which translate powerfully to the screen.
Can Okan: “We are confident that Eshref Ruya’s domestic success will translate into strong global performance. Even prior to its premiere, the series had already captured the attention of international buyers and viewers. Since its debut, this interest has grown significantly.”
Eshref Ruya brings together Çağatay Ulusoy and Demet Özdemir, two internationally beloved stars, along with a powerful narrative. With such strong elements in place, how do you see the series’ global journey unfolding?
Can Okan: Yes, at its core, Eshref Ruya tells a remarkably tender love story. Alongside it runs a love triangle that unfolds in an unconventional and gripping way. The series brings together powerful performances, a masterfully layered and intricately written narrative, and TIMS&B Productions’ hallmark production quality, making it a standout project on every level. Currently, it holds the position as the most-watched TV drama in Türkiye across all demographic groups and continues to build momentum with each episode, keeping audiences captivated. We are confident that Eshref Ruya’s domestic success will translate into strong global performance. Even prior to its premiere, the series had already captured the attention of international buyers and viewers. Since its debut, this interest has grown significantly. Once signature processes are finalized, we look forward to announcing multiple international sales in the very near future.
What are your expectations for Eshref Ruya’s international journey? Are you already seeing early interest?
Can Okan: As I mentioned, Eshref Ruya generated significant excitement and curiosity from the moment it was first announced. The results we’re seeing now are a direct reflection of that early interest. Since its premiere, the series has sparked even greater attention and enthusiasm in the international market. We’re currently in the final stages of several major deals, and we hope to announce them in the very near future.
You’ve developed a strong relationship with TIMS&B, with major successes like Bitter Lands, Valley of Hearts, and now Eshref Ruya. What would you like to say about this ongoing collaboration?
Can Okan: We have enjoyed a long-standing and richly collaborative partnership with TIMS&B Productions, built on a shared vision and creative alignment. For years, we have worked together to bring many of their highly successful series to global audiences. To date, we have overseen the international distribution of standout titles such as Bitter Lands, Deception, and Interrupted. This season, our partnership continues with Valley of Hearts and Loveberry, and most recently, with Eshref Ruya. Our relationship is built on mutual trust and complementary strengths, allowing us to work together with professionalism and shared purpose. Collaborating with such a bold and talented production company, one that shares our drive and ambition, is a true pleasure. We look forward to continuing this successful partnership across many more future projects.
On the production side, you launched Heartstrings at Content Americas 2025, a heartfelt family drama crafted solely for international audiences. Could you walk us through the production process and its international journey so far?
Hasret Özcan: Yes, in 2020, we entered the world of co-productions with an ambitious vision. We marked a first for Türkiye by signing the country’s very first co-production agreement with the US Hispanic market. This was soon followed by another milestone, the first-ever co-production deal between Türkiye and Latin America, also initiated by Inter Medya. Since then, several co-production projects have followed, and we’ve actively begun developing a wide slate of new collaborations. Most recently, we signed a comprehensive production agreement with iZen Group to develop content for the US Hispanic, Mexican, and Spanish markets. In parallel, we continue to invest in and also prioritize projects that cater to new media platforms, recognizing the shifting dynamics of content consumption. Our aim is to create high-quality, globally appealing productions across both traditional and digital landscapes.
Hasret Özcan: “We licensed Valley of Hearts to Mega in Chile, following its previous success in Latin America and its upcoming premiere on Mediaset Italy at the end of May. The series has already been sold to several territories, including countries that broadcast it via simulcast, highlighting its growing international appeal.”
We know Valley of Hearts has been licensed to Mediaset in Italy and TVN Panama, while titles like The Trusted, Deception, and Bitter Lands made their way to Bulgaria. Are there any recent updates or new sales you can share?
Hasret Özcan: We continue to expand our global footprint with strong international sales across multiple titles. Most recently, we licensed Valley of Hearts to Mega in Chile, following its previous success in Latin America and its upcoming premiere on Mediaset Italy at the end of May. The series has already been sold to several territories, including countries that broadcast it via simulcast, highlighting its growing international appeal. Our latest co-production, Heartstrings, which we launched at Content Americas, is gaining strong traction. We’re also preparing to announce multiple new deals for Eshref Ruya. Additionally, we have licensed many feature films to TVN Panama, further strengthening our relationship with the region. Our inflight entertainment sales are also accelerating; Emirates and Qatar Airways now features several of our mini-series and film. With many more deals in the pipeline, we’re excited about the continued global demand for our content.
You also recently announced a partnership with Turkish streaming platform Exxen, securing international distribution rights for eight original mini-series. Could you tell us more about this agreement and what do you expect from it?
Can Okan: Our mini-series catalogue continues to grow at a strong pace. We are actively investing in both expanding the number of titles and increasing the global reach of our mini-series, with a particular focus on entering new markets. In this context, we maintain ongoing partnerships with Türkiye’s leading local platforms. Most recently, we added another major agreement to our portfolio by signing a comprehensive deal with Acunmedya, through which eight distinctive and high-quality mini-series have been added to our catalogue. Each title stands out with its originality, compelling storytelling, and talented cast. We license our mini-series to local platforms across many territories worldwide, and with this latest agreement, we aim to further strengthen our sales and global distribution footprint.
You participated in Series Mania Forum in March. How was the experience, and could you give us some insights in terms of interest in Turkish series?
Sinem Alışkan: Attending Series Mania Forum was a truly energizing and inspiring experience. It’s one of those rare industry events where you can genuinely feel the momentum, a space alive with creativity, innovation, and professionals deeply passionate about storytelling. Turkish series made a remarkable impression this year. The level of interest was strong not only from buyers, but also from international producers and platforms exploring opportunities for co-productions and format adaptations, which is incredibly promising. There’s a clear and growing recognition of the emotional depth, production quality, and distinctive narrative voice that Turkish content brings to the global stage. We had a series of productive, forward-looking meetings and came away even more confident in the international appeal and potential of the stories we’re telling.
You’ll be attending NEM Dubrovnik, a key event for the CEE region. What importance does the region hold for Inter Medya, and what are your expectations for this year’s market?
Sinem Alışkan: The Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region has consistently been one of our most strategic and dynamic markets. Audiences across this diverse landscape maintain a strong cultural affinity and emotional connection with Turkish dramas, and we continue to witness growing demand across both traditional broadcasters and digital platforms. NEM Dubrovnik has become an increasingly important industry event, offering a unique opportunity to reconnect with our longstanding partners, foster new relationships, and explore fresh opportunities for collaboration across the region. This year, we are proud to showcase a slate of our most powerful and distinctive new titles, stories that reflect the emotional depth, production quality, and storytelling sophistication that define Turkish content on the global stage. We are confident these series will resonate deeply with CEE audiences. With the market’s ongoing emphasis on premium, emotionally-driven storytelling, we expect this year’s NEM Dubrovnik to be both vibrant and productive, setting the stage for new partnerships and further growth across the region.
Sinem Alışkan: “This year, we’re presenting a dynamic and diverse slate, featuring both established audience favorites and fresh standout titles. Valley of Hearts and Deception continue to generate strong interest, thanks to their compelling storylines, high production values, and impressive international performance, which we’re thrilled to see growing steadily. We’re also especially excited to introduce our newest title, Eshref Ruya, which is already showing great promise with strong ratings, a gripping narrative, and a standout cast.”
Could you also talk about your participation in NATPE Budapest? Which titles will you be highlighting at the event, and what are your expectations for this year’s edition?
Sinem Alışkan: NATPE Budapest remains one of the key markets for the CEE region, and we’re delighted to be participating once again. This year, we’re presenting a dynamic and diverse slate, featuring both established audience favorites and fresh standout titles. Valley of Hearts and Deception continue to generate strong interest, thanks to their compelling storylines, high production values, and impressive international performance, which we’re thrilled to see growing steadily. We’re also especially excited to introduce our newest title, Eshref Ruya, which is already showing great promise with strong ratings, a gripping narrative, and a standout cast. In addition to our long-running dramas, we’re seeing increasing demand for shorter formats and digital-first content. Our catalogue is well-positioned to meet this demand with a flexible and forward-thinking approach. Our priority at NATPE is to further strengthen our existing partnerships while exploring new opportunities for collaboration throughout the region.
This exclusive interview was featured in Episode Magazine’s NEM Dubrovnik & NATPE Budapest 2025 issue.
